ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture Support

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on Government support for the agriculture industry in the last financial year.

Alun Michael: The latest published figure for UK expenditure under the Common Agricultural Policy and on national grants and subsidies for agriculture is £3.1billion for 2002–03 1 . This figure includes direct product subsidies, other subsidies on production, capital grants, transfers, other payments and CAP market support but does not include other expenditure of benefit to farmers and the farming community such as expenditure on animal health, research, advice and education.
	 1 Source: Agriculture in the UK 2003 edition"

Bovine TB

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the levels of bovine TB in North-West Leicestershire.

Ben Bradshaw: We do not hold bovine TB surveillance data for individual constituencies. However TB data is available for Leicestershire. At the end of November 2004 there were 3,187 registered cattle herds in the county. Of these, 49 herds (1.5 per cent.) were under restriction at some point between 1 January and 30 November 2004. There were 36 new herd TB incidents during this period, of which 13 have been confirmed to date (three remain unclassified). TB surveillance data for Leicestershire is published each month on Defra's website at http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/tb/stats/index.htm.
	The level of bovine TB in Leicestershire is low in comparison to some other areas of the country, e.g. South West England. We realise the importance of preventing the risk of TB spreading to new areas and that is why we introduced new measures at the end of 2004, e.g. changes to testing frequency and the imposition of movement restrictions immediately a test becomes overdue.
	Note
	The data above are provisional and subject to change as more information becomes available. Information was downloaded from the State Veterinary Service database on 17–21 December 2004.

Common Agricultural Policy

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the savings to UK public funds of reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy since their introduction in 2003.

Alun Michael: The UK contributes to the EU budget as a whole rather than to individual elements, and it is not therefore possible to make precise estimates of savings to UK public funds following the reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy. However, increased financial discipline and setting the CAP budget until 2013 will limit the burden that the CAP places on taxpayers. Cross-compliance and modulation of direct payments into agri-environment schemes means that a greater proportion of public funds are now delivering better value for society by buying public goods not readily provided by the market. The Government will continue to press for further reforms which reduce the cost to taxpayers of the Common Agricultural Policy.

Dairy Farming

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many dairy farms there were in England in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and what the estimated figure is for 2004–05.

Alun Michael: The following figures show holdings in England where dairy is the predominant activity. Estimates for 2004 are not available.
	
		
			  Dairy holdings 
		
		
			 1994 20,579 
			 1995 19,632 
			 1996 18,904 
			 1997 18,007 
			 1998 17,014 
			 1999 16,313 
			 2000 15,219 
			 2001 14,106 
			 2002 14,342 
			 2003 13,556 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures prior to 2000 show main holding only. From 2000 onwards minor holdings are included.
	Source:
	June Agricultural Census.

Dairy Farming

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farm workers were employed on dairy farms in England in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and what the estimated number is for 2004–05.

Alun Michael: The figures as follows show the number of workers on holdings in England where dairy is the predominant activity. The figures include casual and family workers but exclude farmers, partners, directors and salaried managers. Estimates for 2004 are not available.
	
		Workers on dairy holdings
		
			  
		
		
			 1994 25,976 
			 1995 25,196 
			 1996 24,273 
			 1997 22,991 
			 1998 20,210 
			 1999 17,941 
			 2000 15,477 
			 2001 13,934 
			 2002 13,961 
			 2003 12,717 
		
	
	Notes:
	(a)Figures prior to 2000 show main holdings only. From 2000 onwards minor holdings are included.
	(b)Due to a register improvement exercise in 2001 labour figures prior to this are not directly comparable with later results.
	Source:
	June Agricultural Census

Departmental Grants

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which councils have benefited from support under (a) the Vital Villages Scheme, (b) the Quality Parish Scheme and (c) the Market Towns Initiative since 2001.

Alun Michael: Each of these programmes has directed grants to communities, town and parish councils, service providers and regional partnerships, not to local authorities.
	The list (annex 1) sets out the councils whose areas have benefited from support under the Vital Villages Scheme and the Market Town Initiative, and those town and parish councils, which have been supported under the Quality Parish Scheme. The list will be made available in the Library of the House.

Fallen Stock Disposal Scheme

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of farmers have registered with the Fallen Stock Disposal Scheme; and if she will make a statement on its (a) introduction and (b) running.

Ben Bradshaw: The National Fallen Stock Company is pleased with the response it has had from farmers to the scheme with over 20,000 members in the UK joining in the first eight weeks.
	It is not possible to express this as a percentage of all farmers as only some farmers have livestock and one farm business may cover a number of livestock holdings. Although, as the company expected, there have been some teething problems while the Scheme is bedding in, this is an encouraging start.

Fallen Stock Disposal Scheme

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farmers have signed up to the National Fallen Stock Company.

Ben Bradshaw: The National Fallen Stock Company has reported that as of the 31 January 2005 some 20,464 members had been registered across the UK.

Farm Incomes

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average level of farm income has been in each year since 1987.

Alun Michael: Information on Total Income from Farming (TIFF) per full-time person equivalent for the years 1987 to 2004 is given in the following table.
	
		Real-terms (2004 prices)
		
			  TIFF/head (£000) 
		
		
			 1987 13.4 
			 1988 12.7 
			 1989 13.3 
			 1990 11.6 
			 1991 12.5 
			 1992 16.0 
			 1993 21.6 
			 1994 23.4 
			 1995 27.0 
			 1996 24.7 
			 1997 14.7 
			 1998 10.3 
			 1999 10.6 
			 2000 8.2 
			 2001 9.3 
			 2002 12.0 
			 2003 16.0 
			 2004 14.8 
		
	
	Total Income from Farming (TIFF) is income generated by production within the agriculture industry, including subsidies. It represents business profits plus remuneration for work done by owners and other unpaid workers.

Farm Subsidies

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which types of farmers are eligible for single payment scheme hardship payments for agri-environment participants.

Alun Michael: Farmers whose production was adversely affected in the reference period 2000–02 by participation in an agri-environment scheme can apply (up until the deadline of 28 February) to have the affected years for affected subsidy schemes ignored when calculating their entitlements under the single payment scheme.

Fish Quotas

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what the status is of the proposals contained in the consultation document issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, dated 11 June 1998, headed Fixed Quota Allocations for Domestic Waters (Areas IV, VI and VII);
	(2)  whether the Department's policy on the feasibility and desirability of collecting and maintaining at individual vessel level comprehensive data on the catches made by under 10 metre PO members remains as set out in Annex B, section 8 of the consultation document issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, dated 11 June 1998, headed Fixed Quota Allocations for Domestic Waters (Areas IV, VI and VII).

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 3 February 2005
	Iwill reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible. The letter of 11 June 1998 communicates the Ministerial decision that a system of fixed quota allocations (FQAs) should be introduced in domestic waters from 1 January 1999. This decision was preceded by extensive consultation with the fishing industry.
	The position set out in the letter, regarding the management of under 10 vessels through producer organisations (POs), was changed following a review of the operation of the FQA system in consultation with industry in 2000–02. As a result of that review Fisheries Departments decided that under 10 metre vessels should, for the first time, be permitted to fish against sectoral" quota allocations managed by POs as an alternative to fishing against the pool" quota allocations for the under 10 metre fleet which are managed by Fisheries Departments in consultation with industry. The owners of the small proportion of under 10 metre vessels who elect to fish against PO allocations are required to complete EU logbooks and submit landing declarations in the same way as vessels over 10metres. The new arrangements were communicated to fishermen in August 2002.

Fish Quotas

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in how many areas in (a) the UK and (b) France, monthly cod quota allocations are imposed on individual vessels operated by under 10 metre PO members; and when those limitations were imposed.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 3 February 2005
	Within the UK under 10 metre vessels whose owners elect to fish against quota allocations managed by producer organisations (POs) are not subject to monthly catch limits set by Fisheries Departments. Iunderstand that in France, unlike in the UK, all under 10 metre vessels whose owners wish to fish for quota stocks are required to join a PO and to observe any catch restrictions which their PO may set. We do not have details of those restrictions.

Fish Quotas

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what legal instruments set out her Department's powers to impose monthly quota allocations in the Channel fishery (ICES area VIId) in respect of and landings by individual vessels in the under 10 metre fishing fleet; when those instruments were promulgated; when they were first published; and when they came into force;
	(2)  what the legal basis under (a) Community law and (b) domestic law is for establishing monthly quota allocations in the Channel fishery (ICES area VIId) in respect of cod landings by individual vessels in the under 10-metre fishing fleet.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 3 February 2005
	Council Regulation (EC) No. 2371/2002 of 20 December 2002 provides (Article 20 (3)) that each member state shall decide on the method of allocating fishing opportunities (in the form of portions of its national quotas) to its vessels. Sub-section 4 (6) of The Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967 (c. 84) stipulates that fishing vessel licences may be
	... subject to such conditions as appear to the Minister granting the licence to be necessary or expedient for the regulation of sea fishing".
	Monthly catch limits for vessels under 10 metres catching cod in ICES area Vlld and other parts of the Channel fishery were first introduced in June 2002. The holders of fishing vessel licences for such vessels were formally notified of the limits by letter of 28 May 2002 enclosing licence variations, following which the catch limits became an enforceable condition of their licences. Subsequent changes to the limits were similarly notified: these included the introduction for 2003, following representations from fishermen, of separate profiled" catch limits for the Eastern and Western Channel, details of which were sent to fishermen on 20 January 2003.

Fish Quotas

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what (a) consultation documents and (b) other communications have been published by her Department since 11 June 1998 concerning the collection at individual vessel level of data on the catches made by under 10 metre PO members;
	(2)  what representations her Department has received from (a) fishermen and (b) fishermen's representatives since 11 June 1998 in relation to (i) the collection at individual vessel level of data on cod catches made by under 10 metre PO members and (ii) the imposition of monthly quota allocations for individual vessels operated by those members exploiting waters in Area VIId.

Ben Bradshaw: In June 2000, following requests from industry, Ministers announced that arrangements would be considered to enable producer organisations (POs) to manage quota on behalf of under 10 metre vessels in their membership. As part of a wider review of the system of fixed quota allocations (FQAs), a consultation letter was sent to fishermen and other interested parties on 8 October 2001 proposing, among other changes, that the owners of under 10 metre vessels should be permitted to fish against quota allocations managed by POs, and that those vessel owners opting to do so should maintain logbooks and submit landing declarations. This proposal was supported by the majority of those who commented and was accepted by Ministers, whose decision was notified to fishermen in August 2002. Since then correspondence has been received from a relatively small number of under 10metre vessel owners in the form of requests to participate in the new arrangements.
	Under 10 metre vessels fishing against quota allocations managed by POs are not subject to monthly catch limits set by Fisheries Departments, but to such restrictions as their POs may determine.

Meat Imports

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the Food Standards Agency about the quality of meat imported from (a) Brazil and (b) Argentina; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: I have not discussed this issue with the Food Standards Agency. All fresh meat imported into the UK must conform to EU rules.

Methane Emissions

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what estimate she has made of the percentage of worldwide methane emissions that arise from the (a) processing, (b) transmission, (c) storage and (d) distribution of natural gas in the UK;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the annual level of methane emission in the UK arising from the (a) processing, (b) transmission, (c) storage and (d) distribution of natural gas for each of the last five years;
	(3)  what international comparisons she has made of the annual level of methane emissions arising from the (a) processing, (b) transmission, (c) storage and (d) distribution of natural gas.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 27 January 2005
	These categories of emissions are counted together in the UK greenhouse gas inventory under the entry for Natural Gas Transmission and Distribution. The table shows data for the years 1998 to 2002 inclusive.
	
		UK emissions of methane from natural gas transmission and distribution 
		
			  (thousand tonnes of methane) 
		
		
			 1998 348.7 
			 1999 349.0 
			 2000 335.6 
			 2001 342.8 
			 2002 338.6 
		
	
	These estimates represent around 1.3 per cent. of global anthropogenic methane emissions for these categories of emissions for the years in question, and these emissions in turn are estimated to have been around 10 per cent. of total global anthropogenic methane over the same time period. The international comparisons draw on data compiled by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency.

Mr. Paul Joy

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the evidential basis was of the public statement made by Andus Radford, district fisheries inspector, that the fine imposed on Mr. Paul Joy amounted to a quarter of his income for the month of September 2003.

Ben Bradshaw: No such statement was made. In a radio interview Mr. Radford commented as follows:
	During the month we took the offences, there were a number of other species that were available to the fishermen and cod was only one of a number of species they could fish off the beach for in Hastings and in fact it only constituted about one quarter of their income for that particular month."
	The month in which the offence occurred was in fact October 2003. Mr. Joy was fined £4,996, of which £1,496 related to the value of the cod which was illegally landed.

National Parks

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish the guidance issued to the national parks on the encouragement of people from the inner cities to use the parks.

Alun Michael: As part of the funding process for national parks I indicate my priorities to park authorities and I shall be writing to national park authorities about this shortly. We are encouraging them to actively promote understanding and greater use of national parks by all sections of society, especially people with disabilities, people from ethnic minorities, the inner cities and young people. We want our national parks to be appreciated fully by all sections of society as truly national assets. Defra and the Department for Education and Skills are working with national park authorities to develop initiatives to meet this aim. I also emphasised the Government's position on this policy of inclusion at a meeting with national park authorities on sustainable tourism in June 2003 so they have been aware of it for some time. I have also made clear that these ends can be achieved without excluding existing users groups and that we will encourage increased engagement of volunteers in meeting national park purposes.
	National park authorities will also benefit from the findings of Defra's Diversity Review which is looking at what can be done to provide more opportunities for people who, for various reasons, have little experience of what the countryside has to offer. An action plan will be published next year. In addition, many park authorities were involved in the Mosaic Project set up by the Council for National Parks and the Black Environment Network in 2001 to enable people from black and ethnic minorities to experience the parks at first hand. The Council for National Parks recently secured lottery funding to develop this project further over the next three years.
	The Government are providing adequate resources for the national park authorities. Funding for the authorities in 2005–06 is 51 per cent. above the 2001–02 level. Each authority receives £200,000 each year to run a sustainable development fund, to make grants to projects which aim to change the attitude and behaviour of individuals and communities in ways that enhance understanding of sustainable development and the role of the national park while promoting cooperation and social inclusion.

National Parks

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether it is her policy to require national parks to discontinue activities in order to perform the new duties detailed in the guidance recently issued by her Department to national parks.

Alun Michael: Our policy is to expand interest in national parks so that they are understood by all communities, as intended, as a genuinely natural asset. Initiatives like the Mosaic project have successfully engaged members of Asian and Black communities in the attractions of visiting several national parks, but there is a long way to go. From my own experience as a youth worker in Wales and from visits to English national parks in the past nine years, I can testify to the value and impact of such visits on inner city youngsters in particular.
	In expanding interest in the national parks to new groups, we have no wish whatsoever to see a reduction in the groups who already make use of these invaluable national assets and I am keen to see the engagement of volunteers expanded rather than reduced.
	In order to support the work of the national parks in England we have significantly increased the level of grant—by 51 per cent. since 2001–02—to a sum of £42.13 million in 2005–06. Also each national park has a sustainable development fund of £200,000 per year to encourage innovation with a particular emphasis on linking the concept of sustainable development to the national parks and engaging people—particularly young people—from urban and rural areas in joint projects in the national park.
	Even with these additional resources the pressures on each national park is considerable. Each authority has to deal with conflicting pressures, and also identify whether any of their services are already being provided, or could be done better, by others. The introduction, later this year, of a streamlined Comprehensive Performance Assessment and Best Value regime for the national park authorities will help to identify priorities and improve cost-effectiveness.

Nitrogen

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she requires to be taken in areas where declared levels of nitrogen in the air exceed accepted levels; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: Actions to reduce exceedences of nitrogen dioxide, as those for many other air pollutants, are required at international, national and local level. The UK is party to a number of international obligations to reduce air pollution that requires reduction in emissions from all sectors. The Government has set out national policies to improve air quality in the Air Quality Strategy for England published in January 2000 and its Addendum published in February 2003. At local level the Government requires local authority to review and assess air quality locally and take actions (such as for example by using their traffic management powers) in cooperation with others if necessary, if they are unlikely to meet air quality objectives such as those for nitrogen dioxide; The Governments Air Quality Strategy and Guidance for Local Authority on Local Air Quality Management, including on local action planning, can be found at www.defra.gov.uk.

Sugar

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the impact of recent EU liberalisation of sugar production in its member states on (a) relations between the smaller and larger economic powers in the World Trade Organisation and (b) the economies of (i) African and (ii) Caribbean sugar producing economies; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: No recent decisions have been taken on reform of the EU sugar regime. The European Commission published a Communication in July 2004 setting out its preferred approach in the light of discussion of its earlier September 2003 Communication analysing a range of possible options, including their potential impacts on international trade. In addition to providing information on these papers for UK Parliamentary Scrutiny purposes and giving evidence to the Efra Select Committee inquiry on sugar reform, the Government have commissioned and published independent economic research on the implications for the EU's existing preferential suppliers. Further impact assessments will be made available once the Commission comes forward with formal legislative proposals, which are not now expected until May or June.

Veterinary Surgeons Act

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to review the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 with a view to introducing new legislation.

Ben Bradshaw: This Department published its proposals to modernise the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, in a consultation document, in September 2003. We had a positive response from a wide-range of stakeholders. A summary of the responses and an analysis has been published on our website.
	We hope to introduce a new Veterinary Surgeons Bill as soon as Parliamentary time allows.

Welsh Language Scheme

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department's Welsh language scheme was approved by the Welsh Language Board; and on what date the scheme was implemented.

Alun Michael: The Defra Welsh language scheme was approved by the Welsh Language Board on 31 October 2002. As required by the terms of the scheme, Defra's scheme was implemented three months after the date above.

Woodland Grant Scheme

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her plans for a replacement for the Woodland Grant Scheme.

Ben Bradshaw: The Forestry Commission announced in March 2004 that the English Woodland Grant Scheme (EWGS) would replace the Woodland Grant Scheme in 2005. The EWGS, which is expected to be fully open for applications from July, comprises six elements which are designed to support the establishment and management of sustainable woodland. These are:
	Woodland Creation Grant" to support the creation of properly designed and well located new woodlands.
	Woodland Assessment Grant" to support the gathering of specific information to improve management decisions.
	Woodland Management Planning Grant" to support the preparation of plans that meet the UK Woodland Assurance Standard.
	Woodland Management Grant" to support the basic management activities that underpin woodland sustainability.
	Woodland Regeneration Grant" to support desirable changes in the delivery of public benefits from woodland.
	Woodland Improvement Grant" to create and sustain an increase in the quality of woodlands.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Asian Tsunami

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what action his Department has taken to ensure that (a) Dalits and (b) indigenous peoples benefit from the UK aid money to the region affected by the tsunami; and what (i) funds and (ii) programmes are specifically earmarked for (A) the Dalit community and (B) indigenous people in that region;
	(2)  what (a) funds and (b) programmes funded by his Department for the region affected by the tsunami have a specific focus on (i) women, (ii) orphans and (iii) older people;
	(3)  if he will list the (a) funds and (b) programmes delivered by his Department on a (i) unilateral, (ii) bilateral and (iii) multilateral basis for the region affected by the tsunami which have a specific focus on enabling women to participate fully in the reconstruction of their communities.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: In all its humanitarian responses, DFID works to ensure that the activities of the humanitarian community are informed by a solid analysis of the specific needs of the affected population. This requires assessment of and response to specific vulnerabilities and vulnerable groups, including women, orphans, the elderly, and, in the Asian context, the Dalit community, and indigenous people in the region. In addition, DFID humanitarian funding is often directly targeted at such groups. Following the Indian Ocean disaster, DFID has channelled £400,000 through the Save the Children Fund and £2,250,000 through the United Nations Children Fund to support orphans and other vulnerable children. The activities of the United Nations Children Fund are also targeted towards pregnant and lactating mothers. In addition, DFID has channelled £483,054 through Help Age International.
	DFID is aware that social exclusion and discrimination on the grounds of gender, caste, ethnicity or religion constrain access to resources by some of the poorest people in Asia. DFID has made a public commitment in its Asia Director's Delivery Plan and Country Assistance Plans to ensuring that reduction of social exclusion is explicitly addressed in all its Asia programmes. DFID also regards the empowerment of women as an essential precondition for the elimination of poverty and the upholding of human rights.
	DFID promotes an inclusive approach to ensure that no groups are excluded from mainstream programmes. DFID seeks to address the causes and consequences of exclusion and encourages disagregation of data by Governments in the region, where possible, to ensure that programmes are in fact reaching the poorest marginalized groups and to identify where programmes are failing.
	DFID works with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and civil society organisations in the poorest areas that advocate the rights of excluded groups. In India, DFID is currently supporting the development of a system to assess how well social exclusion is being addressed in the tsunami relief programme. Many NGOs, including some that are not receiving DFID funding have asked to be involved in this auditing scheme.
	Experience suggests that real change cannot be imposed by outside agencies. Recipients of aid, whether they are individuals, groups or Governments need to be convinced of the need for social inclusion.

Burma

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the (a) nature and (b) impact of development projects undertaken in Burma since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID withdrew its bilateral development support to Burma in 1988 as a response to the military takeover that year. In 2001, when the view of the political situation in Burma took a more optimistic turn, DFID worked towards reviving its programme.
	It is clear that progress towards a political settlement in Burma is an essential ingredient for significant pro-poor development and until such progress is made large-scale, sustainable poverty reduction will remain out of reach. However, as is explained in the DFID Burma Country Plan (available at www.dfid.gov.uk) we continue to believe that in certain areas, we can have a valuable impact on poverty in Burma.
	In 2003–04, as part of its work to prepare the Country Plan, DFID reviewed its experience of working in Burma and consulted widely with colleagues including FCO, civil society groups inside and outside Burma, the National League for Democracy the UN and other donors. Some key lessons identified by this work included: the need to be realistic about what we seek to achieve; the importance of taking a long-term approach; that it can be possible to influence Government policy in certain areas; and that donors need to, and can, work better together in Burma to share lessons and experience to increase our impact.
	Since then DFID has worked with the UN, NGOs and other donors to develop programmes under the Country Plan objectives such as on HIV and AIDS, health, education and livelihoods of poor people.
	The first review of progress with implementing the new Country Plan will take place by the end of 2005. This will draw on reports on the progress and impact of the programmes we are funding in Burma.

Guyana

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what cash donations for emergency aid the Government have given to Guyana (a) through the EU, (b) through non-governmental organisations and (c) directly, following the recent flooding; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what technical assistance and advice the Government have given to Guyana following the recent flooding; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development has given a total of £376,000 to help the victims of the recent floods in Guyana.
	This has comprised an immediate £100,000 to the Government of Guyana's own relief effort and to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for the delivery of emergency supplies. These funds are providing water purification sachets and water containers, survival items such as blankets and treated mosquito nets to reduce the chances of malarial infection.
	The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has received £120,000 from DFID for a 20-member rapid response unit using six boats to help with the distribution of supplies in areas cut off by the floods. The RNLI team arrived in Georgetown on Wednesday 2 February, and have started their work.
	A further £57,000 has been allocated to the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) to help improve the quality of drinking water for up to 195,000 people and offer solutions for human waste disposal.
	The UK has also made £99,000 available as part of our contribution to the European Commission's Humanitarian (ECHO) assistance. The UK's share of EC assistance is 18 per cent.
	ECHO has provided a total of £552,000 1 worth of relief supplies and programme assistance for water and sanitation through the International Federation of the Red Cross, PAHO, and Oxfam.
	1 €800,000 at an exchange rate of 1:£0.69

Guyana

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what (a) technical assistance, (b) advice and (c) cash donations the Government have given to the Caribbean for disaster management following (i) Hurricane Ivan and (ii) the recent floods in Guyana.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The events of last year's hurricane season in the Caribbean, has given an added urgency to the Department for International Development's (DFID) work on a Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy. There are best practice lessons to be learnt from within the region, for example in its preparedness for Hurricane Mitch and Cuba demonstrated that lives can be saved with a relatively small amount of resources. DFID's Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy, will be ready by autumn 2005, and will feed into our assistance plans for all the countries and regions where we work.
	Over the period 2003–08, DFID is providing £3.75 million to the Pan American Health Organisation's Programme for Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Relief (PAHO PED). Of this money approximately a third will be allocated to the countries and territories of the Caribbean. PAHO PED focus on three key activities:
	preparing the health sector for disasters
	reducing the vulnerability of hospitals
	reducing the vulnerability of water and sanitation systems.
	PAHO PED have also trained many professionals in the Caribbean region on disaster risk reduction policy and practice.
	DFID's Overseas Territories Department (OTD) have a Disaster Management Adviser based in the Caribbean and an ongoing disaster management programme (£350,000 per annum) with an emphasis on strengthening preparedness and risk reduction capabilities in the Caribbean Territories.
	The FCO has a £55,000 per annum Good Governance Fund (GGF) disaster management project for the Overseas Territories (OTs) designed to raise the capacities of National Disaster Offices in the Caribbean OTs.
	Within these programmes DFID OTD and FCO OTD are providing £80,000 to the Caribbean Disaster Emergency and Response Agency (CDERA) to facilitate national performance evaluations by Caribbean countries affected in the 2004 hurricane season. A high level forum is being organised for 2005 to share experiences, to identify opportunities to improve disaster planning and to agree an action plan. Evaluations are already under way.
	The DFID and FCO OT programmes have allocated £30,000 for emergency supplies and capacity building of British Red Cross OT Branches in the Caribbean for 2005.
	In a written response I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Islington, North (Jeremy Corbyn) on 25 October 2004, Official Report, column 989W, Imentioned that DFID OTD had commenced a study to determine Hurricane Ivan storm characteristics and consequential physical infrastructure damage in the Cayman Islands. The study, to which we have allocated £20,000, will aid the development of planning and preparedness criteria throughout the region.
	The disaster management adviser offers direct technical assistance to Caribbean Overseas Territories. He remains engaged and involved in the longer-term recovery and risk reduction programme in the Cayman Islands.
	With respect to the ongoing flooding emergency in Guyana, which is estimated to have affected 294,000 people or 39 per cent. of the population of Guyana, DFID immediately gave a total of £100,000 to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for the delivery of emergency supplies and the Government of Guyana's own relief effort. This support will provide water purification sachets and water containers, and survival items such as blankets and treated mosquito nets to reduce the chances of malarial infection.
	DFID has also made available a 20-member six boat team from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution's (RNLI) Rapid Response Unit. This team is led by a member of DFID's Conflict and Humanitarian Affairs Department, and will help with the distribution of supplies in areas cut off by the floods. The estimated cost of the RNLI initiative is £120,000, which includes the provision of 400 pairs of waders and 50 loudhailers (worth £15,000). The RNLI team and these supplies arrived in Georgetown on 2 February 2005. The RNLI team began work immediately and the supplies have been handed over to the Government of Guyana's Civil Defence Commission.
	A further £57,000 has been allocated to the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) in Guyana, to help improve the quality of drinking water for up to 195,000 people/35,000 households and offer short-term solutions for human waste disposal.
	The UK has also made £95,000 available as part of our contribution to the European Commission's Humanitarian assistance.
	Once the immediate emergency has passed, we will work with the Government of Guyana, local and international relief agencies, to review and assess Guyana's disaster preparedness and the lessons learned from these floods.

Iraq

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the objectives of British development and aid policy in Iraq.

Hilary Benn: The objectives of DFID's programme in Iraq are: to promote rapid, sustainable and equitable economic growth; to encourage effective and accountable governance, and to promote social and political cohesion and stability.
	In meeting these objectives, DFID is:
	supporting Iraq's newly emerging public administration in delivering effective government to the people of Iraq; and providing advice and security support to the Iraqi electoral commission;
	assisting macro-economic management in Iraq, including the design of effective economic reform measures which safeguard the interests of the country's poorest and most vulnerable citizens;
	providing direct assistance in southern Iraq for infrastructure rehabilitation, employment generation, and building up the capacity of local government;
	supporting the development of Iraqi community organisations and public participation in the political process;
	financing training for the judiciary, and supporting the development of independent media;
	supporting the multilateral effort for Iraq through the World Bank and the United Nations in a number of sectors including health, education, power supply and support for returning refugees and their host communities.

Iraq

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what financial help has been given to the Iraqi Government by the United Kingdom to help towards the cost of rebuilding the city of Fallujah; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The United Kingdom is not providing financial assistance for the reconstruction of Fallujah. $100 million has been allocated from the Iraqi budget for reconstruction work in Fallujah, and United States agencies report that they have planned around 100 reconstruction projects in the Fallujah area worth a total of over $84 million. DFID staff and consultants have made assessment visits to Fallujah and provided advice to the Iraqi Government on the management of health, humanitarian and coordination issues.

Israel

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid was received by Israel for (a) humanitarian and (b) military purposes from (i) the Government of the United Kingdom and (ii) other sources from the United Kingdom in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: No humanitarian or military aid has been given by the UK Government to Israel since 1997, other than to fund the attendance of one Israeli participant annually on a military training course at the Royal College of Defence Studies. We do not track the exact amounts of aid from other sources.

Ministerial Engagements

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the ministerial engagements (a) out of London and (b) in London that he has cancelled since 1 January 2004.

Hilary Benn: Details of cancelled ministerial engagements are not recorded, therefore the information requested cannot be provided.

Rwanda

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether it is his policy to withhold aid from Rwanda if he receives evidence of attacks by Rwandan forces on groups seeking to destabilise the country, with particular reference to the ex-FAR and the Interahamwe.

Hilary Benn: The UK Government are Rwanda's major bilateral development partner. Our engagement with the Government of Rwanda is based on the UK/Rwanda Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The MoU describes the Government of Rwanda's commitments to the Rwandan people on poverty reduction, promoting regional stability, creating a democratic and inclusive state, and progressively securing human rights. The Government of Rwanda's undertakings include commitment to playing a full part in international and regional initiatives to prevent and reduce conflict within and between countries and establish peace in central Africa.
	The MoU confirms that the UK's engagement depends on continuing progress in these areas. Should we believe that the Government of Rwanda are not honouring the commitments made in the MoU, the UK's programme of assistance to the Government of Rwanda may be reconfigured or suspended.
	DFID is concerned by reports that Rwanda planned to mount a cross-border operation in DRC against elements of the ex-FAR and the Interahamwe (ex-FAR/l). Any military action by Rwanda in DRC would have very serious repercussions for Rwanda, DRC and the region as a whole. DFID has urged all parties to refrain from any actions that would breach international law and undermine regional stability and the work of the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC). We therefore welcome the recent statements by the Government of Rwanda indicating that they will not pursue cross-border military action and will support international efforts to disarm the ex-FAR/l in eastern DRC.
	DFID condemns the attacks made by the ex-FAR/l against Rwandan citizens and territory and also recognises that the disarmament of the ex-FAR/l is a critical requirement that needs to be addressed urgently. We are working actively with the UN and international partners on how this can best be addressed.

Water Supplies

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the role of private companies in the provision of water in developing countries.

Hilary Benn: DFID believes that the private sector can play a positive role and contribute to poverty alleviation through bringing gains in productivity, efficiency and quality of service delivery if its involvement is appropriately structured and regulated and includes mechanisms for public consultation. Specific decisions about the use of the private sector are for developing countries to take.
	DFID's research in this area has studied the role of non-state service providers and public-private partnerships in order to support developing country governments to strengthen their regulatory structures and institutions to this end.

Water Supplies

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with the Government of Ghana about their citizens' access to clean water.

Hilary Benn: During my visit to Ghana in March 2004 I visited Nima, a deprived suburb of Accra, and talked to residents and officials of the Government of Ghana about the problems of poor urban water supply and plans to introduce private sector participation. Since then DFID has been in negotiation with the Government of Ghana on a contribution of £7.7 million which we intend to allocate to improvements in urban water networks.
	Access to clean water is a key indicator of progress towards the Millennium Development Goals in Ghana, and measures to increase such access are included in the dialogue about overall performance that informs the release of Poverty Reduction Budget Support by DFID and other donors.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Rape Trials

Vera Baird: To ask the Solicitor-General what monitoring procedures the Crown Prosecution Service has in place to ensure good quality prosecution by the Bar in rape trials.

Harriet Harman: The Crown Prosecution Service instructs experienced and committed advocates to prosecute cases involving allegations of rape. This includes instructing advocates of the necessary skill, competence and sensitivity to prosecute rape cases. In London and the South East advocates are instructed from a specialist list. In other parts of the country, Grade 4 advocates are instructed where possible. CPS Areas have been advised in guidance issued in August 2003 that local monitoring is appropriate. Examples of local monitoring carried out by CPS Areas include the monitoring of the performance of counsel at trial by experienced caseworkers; monitoring by rape specialists for part of the trial and the raising of performance issues with local Heads of Chambers and at Joint Advocates Selection Committee as appropriate.
	In 2002, HMCPSI produced a report on the investigation and prosecution of Rape Offences. It made a number of recommendations, which have been followed up in a joint agency rape action plan. HMCPSI keeps the handling of rape cases under review in its inspection of Areas.
	HMCPSI does not specifically look at the handling by the Bar of rape cases but it regards rape cases as sensitive and looks at how such cases are prosecuted in each Area.

Rape Trials

Vera Baird: To ask the Solicitor-General what training the Crown Prosecution Service (a) organises for and (b) delivers to the Bar to ensure that its new code of practice on rape prosecutions is followed at trial.

Harriet Harman: The CPS Policy for Prosecuting Cases of Rape" explains the way in which the CPS deals with cases in which an allegation of rape has been made.
	The training the CPS delivers to the Bar on the CPS Policy for Prosecuting Cases of Rape" is determined at a local level. Not all CPS Areas have a local Bar. Seven CPS Areas have offered, organised and trained or provided training materials to their local Bar covering the Sexual Offences Act 2003 of which two Areas gave specific training on the CPS Policy for Prosecuting Cases of Rape". Other Areas have distributed the CPS Policy for Prosecuting Cases of Rape" highlighting the issues raised in the document.
	In addition, this document is on the CPS website and available to all barristers.

Rape Trials

Vera Baird: To ask the Solicitor-General what training is given by the Crown Prosecution Service to the Bar about resisting applications for the admission of previous sexual history in rape trials.

Harriet Harman: There is a small number of CPS Areas who have provided training to their local Bar on the Sexual Offences Act 2003 which incorporated training on section 41 applications, although generally there is no specific training conducted by the CPS for the Bar on resisting defence applications for the admission of previous sexual history.
	The CPS Instructions for Prosecuting Advocates booklet, available on the CPS website, provide that it is essential that advocates are robust in dealing with applications by the defence to cross-examine about previous sexual history and that the correct procedure is followed to ensure that inappropriate questioning does not take place.
	The CPS instructs experienced counsel in rape cases ensuring that scrutiny of defence applications to admit evidence of previous sexual history takes place and inappropriate applications are countered robustly.
	The CPS and the Bar are in discussions on how counsel might best be able to demonstrate the necessary competencies to prosecute rape cases. An option is for them to have attended and appropriate training course.

Rape Trials

Vera Baird: To ask the Solicitor-General what instructions are given by the Crown Prosecution Service to the Bar in rape trials about meeting and speaking to the complainant.

Harriet Harman: The instructions given by the Crown Prosecution Service to the Bar about meeting and speaking to complainants in all trials are provided in the Crown Prosecution Service's Instructions to Advocates booklet.
	The booklet contains the following instructions:
	The advocate is reminded that the Code of Conduct permits barristers appearing at court to introduce themselves to witnesses and to explain court procedures. The CPS regards this personal contact as particularly important so far as victims of crime are concerned. The advocate's attention is also drawn to the duty imposed by the Code of Conduct to ensure that those facing unfamiliar court procedures are put at ease. This is particularly important in the case of nervous or vulnerable witnesses."
	Instructions to Prosecuting Advocates also remind the Bar that in some cases, the advocate may be expected to attend an early special measures meeting, at which the police and the CPS will discuss special measures in the case. All rape victims are considered prima facie eligible for special measures unless they decline them.
	The instructions to Prosecuting Advocates booklet is available on the internet.
	Further work is ongoing between the CPS and the Bar to reinforce CPS expectations that prosecuting counsel will communicate appropriately with victims, particularly rape victims, at court.

CPS Prosecutions (Essex)

David Amess: To ask the Solicitor-General how many cases under section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, as amended, were referred to Essex Crown Prosecution Service in each year from 2000; and in how many of these cases prosecutions were brought.

Harriet Harman: Records are not available for the whole period requested and it is not possible to break the figures down into number of cases referred and number prosecuted. For the period February 2004 to December 2004, CPS Essex handled prosecutions in respect of 130 offences under s18 Offences Against the Person Act 1861.

CPS Prosecutions (Essex)

David Amess: To ask the Solicitor-General pursuant to her answer of 13 January 2005, Official Report, column 930W, on Crown Prosecution Service prosecutions, what the nature of the offences committed by the defendants being prosecuted by Essex Crown Prosecution Service were; how many defendants were (a) convicted and (b) acquitted; and what the average cost of the prosecution in such cases was in each year since 2000.

Harriet Harman: The Crown Prosecution Service only introduced a system for the recording and analysis of principal offence types in September 2004. Atable of the principal offence types and outcomes for the period since September 2004 is as follows.
	Average prosecution costs are calculated nationally and so average prosecution costs for Essex are not available. The average cost for a defendant prosecuted for a summary offence in the magistrates court, is £390.80. To prosecute a defendant for an either way offence in the magistrates court, the average cost is £393.
	The average cost for a defendant prosecuted in the Crown court following a mixture of guilty and not guilty pleas, is £1,256. For a defendant who pleads not guilty to all charges the average cost of a prosecution is £1,293. A table showing the breakdown of costs by case disposal is as follows.
	
		Principal offence types for defendants prosecuted by CPS Essex 2004
		
			   Discontinued (including Judge Ordered Acquittals) Discharged Committals Judge Directed Acquittals and Dismissals no Case to Answer Acquittals and Dismissals after Trial Total Acquittals Proofs in Absence 
		
		
			 A Homicide 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 B Offences Against The Person 211 4 5 48 53 2 
			 C Sexual Offences 13 1 0 7 7 0 
			 D Burglary 28 0 2 3 5 0 
			 E Robbery 6 1 1 1 2 0 
			 F Theft and Handling 63 4 1 12 13 0 
			 G Fraud and Forgery 11 3 0 2 2 0 
			 H Criminal Damage 39 0 1 10 11 0 
			 I Drugs Offences 6 2 1 1 2 0 
			 J Public Order Offences 56 0 1 13 14 4 
			 K All Other Offences (excluding Motoring) 36 1 0 5 5 2 
			 L Motoring Offences 99 0 5 27 32 990 
			  Total 568 16 17 129 146 998 
		
	
	
		
			   Guilty Pleas Convictions after Trial Total Unsuccessful Outcomes (excluding Administrative Finalisations) Percentage Total Convictions Percentage Total 
		
		
			 A Homicide 2 0 0 0.0 2 100.0 2 
			 B Offences Against The Person 433 70 268 34.7 505 65.3 773 
			 C Sexual Offences 26 11 21 36.2 37 63.8 58 
			 D Burglary 122 10 33 20.0 132 80.0 165 
			 E Robbery 21 4 9 26.5 25 73.5 34 
			 F Theft And Handling 648 25 80 10.6 673 89.4 753 
			 G Fraud And Forgery 47 1 16 25.0 48 75.0 64 
			 H Criminal Damage 206 9 50 18.9 215 81.1 265 
			 I Drugs Offences 161 12 10 5.5 173 94.5 183 
			 J Public Order Offences 273 17 70 19.2 294 80.8 364 
			 K All Other Offences (excluding Motoring) 245 29 42 13.2 276 86.8 318 
			 L Motoring Offences 1,524 121 131 4.7 2,635 95.3 2,766 
			  Total 3,708 309 730 12.7 5,015 87.3 5,745 
		
	
	Crown Prosecution Service records include an analysis of the principal offence type for which each defendant was prosecuted and, within that analysis, an indication of the outcome of proceedings. The information from these records is as follows in respect of CPS Essex, including the number of acquittals.
	It should be noted that this information is incomplete in two respects:
	The record was only introduced in September 2004; and
	The analysis of outcomes takes no account of cases which resulted in an administrative finalisation (where the defendant could not be traced by the police, or had died, or been found unfit to plead). The number and proportion of unsuccessful outcomes are therefore understated.
	
		Costs per defendant finalised—National -- £
		
			 Finalisation category Lawyer DCW Admin Total 
		
		
			 Magistrates court 
			 Guilty Summary 22.91 6.98 12.35 42.24 
			 Guilty Either way 67.42 5.77 18.92 92.11 
			 Discharged Committal 152.42 4.42 48.39 205.23 
			 Prosecution dropped 101.16 4.56 26.13 131.85 
			 Write off 54.94 6.99 14.81 76.74 
			 Other Proceedings 22.72 7.85 8.32 38.89 
			 Trial—Summary 319.87 3.52 67.40 390.79 
			 Trial—Either way 324.63 2.53 65.82 392.98 
			 Pre Charge Decision 29.07 0.00 0.06 29.13 
			 Youth case (additional to PI above) 24.67 0 9.73 34.40 
			 Late Guilty" (additional to PI above) 96.78 0 40.03 136.81 
			  
			 Crown court 
			 Timeous Guilty 482.45 173.47 86.42 742.34 
			 Late Guilty 544.49 211.74 102.83 859.06 
			 Not guilty Contest 620.65 547.65 124.75 1,293.05 
			 Guilty/Not Guilty Contest 598.26 534.01 122.71 1,254.98 
			 Prosecution dropped 543.82 180.26 96.20 820.28 
			 Write off 458.68 148.39 78.47 685.54 
			 Appeals 69.08 61.11 32.78 162.97 
			 Committal for sentence 36.50 55.89 35.36 127.75

CPS Prosecutions (Essex)

David Amess: To ask the Solicitor-General pursuant to the answer of 26 January 2005, Official Report, columns 345–46W, on Crown Prosecution Service prosecutions (Essex), what the cost to public funds was of prosecutions (a) in each year since 1997 and (b) for the period to September 2004; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: The costs of prosecutions to public funds are divided into two categories. The first is the prosecution cost and the second is administration costs. The Crown Prosecution Service uses financial years for managing budgets and costs.
	The table shows prosecution and administrative costs incurred by CPS Essex during each financial year since April 1997. Administration costs include all payroll costs and other non-payroll administration costs.
	
		CPS Essex—Prosecution costs (1997 to September 2004) -- £
		
			 Financial year Prosecution Administrative 
		
		
			 1997–98 1,778,157 2,954,806 
			 1998–99 2,205,035 3,108,413 
			 1999–2000 2,391,631 3,379,999 
			 2000–01 2,470,118 3,562,268 
			 2001–02 1,751,749 4,314,751 
			 2002–03 2,377,503 5,071,496 
			 2003–04 2,943,440 5,610,187 
			 2004–2005 (to September 2004) 1,685,430 3,093,535

European Court of Justice

John Hayes: To ask the Solicitor-General pursuant to her answer of 17 January 2005, Official Report, column 663W, on the Court of Justice, if she will make a statement on UK interest in the case; and in how many instances since 1997 the UK has acted as an intervening state.

Harriet Harman: The UK supported the Commission in this case as it raised important questions about the operation of the single market. However, after considering the Pleadings the UK felt that that it could add nothing of value to the Commission's case.
	The information on the number of instances in which the UK acted as intervening state since 1997 is not collected centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the UK participated in 165 cases brought in the European Court between February 2003 and December 2004.

Football Banning Orders

David Amess: To ask the Solicitor-General how many football banning order cases the Crown Prosecution Service has brought in (a) Essex and (b) England and Wales in each year since 1997; and how many of these resulted in (i) conviction and (ii) acquittal.

Harriet Harman: The following table sets out the relevant figures. The figures relate to persons for whom these sentences were for the principal offences for which they were found guilty. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	
		Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates court and convicted at all courts for offences related to football banning orders. England and Wales and Essex police force area, 1997 to 2003
		
			Essex England and Wales 
			 Offence description Principal statute Year Proceeded against Found guilty Acquitted Proceeded against Found guilty Acquitted 
		
		
			 12530 breach of a domestic football banning order Public Order Act 1986 S.32(3) 1997 — — — 5 5 — 
			   1998 — — — 20 20 — 
			   1999 — — — 17 15 — 
			   (1)2000 — — — 15 12 — 
			   2001 — — — 9 7 — 
			   2002 — — — 4 2 — 
			   2003 — — — 7 4 — 
			  
			 12559 Failure to comply with requirements of Football Banning Order Football Spectators Act 1 989 S.14J 1997 — — — — — — 
			   1998 — — — — — — 
			   1999 — — — — — — 
			   (1)2000  —  2 2 — 
			   2001  —  8 8 — 
			   2002 1 1 — 23 21 — 
			   2003  —  57 49 — 
			  
			 50200 Other offences related to Football Banning Orders Football Spectators Act SS.14B, 21B and 22 1997 — — — — — — 
			   1998 — — — — — — 
			   1999 — — — — — — 
			   (1)2000 — — — — — — 
			   2001 — — — — — — 
			   2001   
			   2002   
			  
			 Failing to comply with the duty to report imposed by a restriction order Football Banning Order Act S.14(4) 1997 — — — — — — 
			   1998 — — — — — — 
			   1999 — — — — — — 
			   (1)2000 — — — — — — 
			   2001 — — — — — — 
			   2002 — — — — — — 
			   2003 — — — — — — 
			  
			 Failing to comply with requirements necessary to give effect to restriction orders Football Spectators Act 1989 S.19(6) 1997 — —  2 2 — 
			   1998 — — — 3 2 — 
			   1999 — — — 1 1 — 
			   (1)2000 — — — 3 3 — 
			   2001 — — — 3 2 — 
			   2002 — — — 9 8 — 
			   2003 — — — 34 29 — 
		
	
	(1)Staffordshire police force were only able to submit sample data for persons proceeded against and convicted in the magistrates courts for the year 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data, these data are not robust enough at a detailed level and have been excluded from the table.
	Note:
	These Data are on a principle offence basis.
	Source:
	RDS—Office for Criminal Justice Reform IOS: 039—04

TRANSPORT

A3 ( Hindhead)

Virginia Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 17 January 2005, Official Report, columns 669–70W, on the A3, for what reasons Ministers did not inform the right hon. Member for South West Surrey and the right hon. Member for North-East Hampshire (Mr. Arbuthnot) (a) about the redesignation of the A3 at Hindhead and (b) that the timetable for the A3 Hindhead Tunnel has been delayed.

David Jamieson: Given the number of schemes covered by the Highways Agency's press announcement issued on 1 December 2004, it was not possible to notify MPs individually about the specific implications for schemes affecting their constituencies.

Car Hire Services (Disabled People)

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of (a) car hire and (b) car breakdown services that are not accessible to disabled people; what proportion this amounts to of the total number of these services in operation in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Charlotte Atkins: The number of car hire firms in the UK is estimated to be over 500 companies and the numbers of firms that provide breakdown recovery services is estimated to be between 1200 and 1500.
	There is currently no legal requirement for these companies to offer a service to disabled people. Some of the car hire companies, especially the larger ones, do offer a basic service to disabled people such as offering portable hand controls and many of the vehicle recovery operators also provide a service for disabled people, but it is not possible to estimate the numbers.
	The Government are currently consulting on proposals to bring car hire companies and vehicle breakdown recovery operators within the scope of Part 3 of the Disability Discrimination Act to extend the rights of disabled people to access these services.

Car Servicing (Fatal Accidents)

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce procedures to record the number of fatal car accidents that occur as a result of poor servicing of cars.

David Jamieson: From 1 January 2005, the national system for the collection of data on accidents involving personal injury has included questions on contributory factors to accidents.
	This will provide information on whether vehicle defects contributed to an accident, although it will not distinguish whether the defect was a result of poor servicing.

Conditional Offer Fixed Penalty Scheme

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons the Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency offices in Swansea do not accept licences issued in Northern Ireland in respect of the Conditional Offer Fixed Penalty Scheme.

David Jamieson: Driver licensing is a devolved matter in NI. While a driving licence issued by either GB or NI authorities is legally recognised by the other, there is at the present time no mutual recognition of endorsable fixed penalties between them.
	However, the Crime (International Co-operation) Act 2003 inserted a new section in the Road Traffic Offenders Act allowing a Northern Ireland driving licence holder to be issued with a Great Britain counterpart. This came into effect on 11 October.
	Since that date there has been a facility for NI licence holders to obtain a GB counterpart. This allows access to the fixed penalty system in GB.

Departmental Spending

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his latest estimate is of unallocated departmental spending in (a) 2005–06, (b) 2006–07, and (c) 2007–08; and if he will make a statement.

Charlotte Atkins: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend, the Chief Secretary on 2 February 2005, Official Report, column 910W.

DVLA Fines

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of entries on the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency system where details of an individual's address are not accurate.

David Jamieson: A survey conducted by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in 2003 established that 75.2 per cent. of the address details held on its driving licence database were correct in every detail. The corresponding figure for its vehicle database was 85.6 per cent. The main cause of error was motorists' failure to notify DVLA that they had changed address and 18 per cent. of driving licence holders and 7 per cent. of vehicle keepers had failed to do so. This means that DVLA's records were sufficiently up-to-date to allow law enforcement agencies to trace vehicle keepers in over 92 per cent. of cases.
	Since then, DVLA has mounted a publicity campaign to encourage motorists to update their details. A further survey, to be conducted this year, will measure the effectiveness of that campaign. Major changes have also been introduced to the way that payment of vehicle excise duty is enforced. These are encouraging motorists to notify DVLA promptly when vehicles change hands.

Integrated Transport Strategy (York)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on the (a) car parking charges imposed by the York council for parking in York at night and (b) closure of the Parkand Ride schemes in York at 8 p.m. at night; and what assessment he has made of the impact of these policies on achieving an integrated transport strategy in York.

Charlotte Atkins: The Department has received no such representations and consequently we have made no assessment of the impact of these policies on achieving an integrated transport strategy in York. These are local issues, to be determined by City of York council as local highway authority.

Rail Usage

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the target set in the 10-Year Plan 2000 to increase rail use by 50 per cent. by 2010 is still in force.

Alistair Darling: As I have made clear on a number of occasions this target was unrealistic. Last year Britain's railway carried over 1 billion passengers and people are travelling further by rail than in any year since 1946.
	New Public Service Agreement (PSA) targets come into effect in April 2005. The current growth target for rail will be replaced by a target to improve punctuality and reliability of rail services to at least 85 per cent. by 2006, with further improvements by 2008". This target better reflects the Government's and passengers' immediate priority of improving performance. Obviously as performance improves more people will want to travel by train and the Government's rail policy is to encourage them to do so.

Road Accidents

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many reported road accidents involved drivers who had passed their test within one year of the incident in each of the last five years.

David Jamieson: The information requested is not available. However, we know from research we have undertaken that one in five new drivers has some sort of accident within one year of passing their driving test. A cohort study of new drivers currently under way will refresh this information.

Roadside Advertising

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of a possible link between prominent roadside advertising and road accidents.

David Jamieson: Although there is anecdotal evidence to suggest that advertising alongside motorways can have a detrimental effect on road safety, the results of studies carried out to date have been inconclusive.

Transport Authorities (Thames Gateway)

Sydney Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State forTransport how many local transport authorities in the Thames Gateway outside Greater London have reported on the six core accessibility indicators as part of their local transport plan.

Charlotte Atkins: Guidance issued to local transport authorities in December 2004 on the next round of local transport plans (LTPs) includes the requirement that authorities set at least one target relating to accessibility, based on one of the six core indicators, a local accessibility indicator or both. This is a new requirement following the recent development of accessibility planning guidance.
	Provisional LTPs including this requirement are not due to be submitted until July 2005, with the final LTPS to be completed by March 2006.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Apprenticeships

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many apprenticeships funded by the Learning and Skills Council were begun in eachregion during the six months ending 31 December 2004.

Ivan Lewis: This is a matter for the Learning andSkills Council. Mark Haysom the Council's Chief Executive will write to my hon. Friend with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

Departmental Costs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the equipment leasing arrangements entered into by her Department in each of the last two years; and what the cost is to public funds in each case.

Stephen Twigg: This information could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

Education Funding

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she next plans to review the education funding formula for schools in England.

Derek Twigg: The five year strategy signalled the Government's intention to introduce a dedicated Schools Budget, guaranteed by national Government and delivered through local authorities. We will be launching a full public consultation on the detailed proposals shortly.

Education Funding

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what capital allocations have been made to Leicestershire county council for education purposes in each year since 1996–97.

Derek Twigg: The table shows the capital allocations made to Leicestershire county council and its schools for education purposes in each year since 1996–97.
	
		Leicestershire local education authority
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 1996–97 3,565 
			 1997–98 2,920 
			 1998–99 6,503 
			 1999–2000 9,232 
			 2000–01 20,957 
			 2001–02 15,831 
			 2002–03 25,401 
			 2003–04 27,582 
			 2004–05 33,834

Education Spending (North Durham)

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the amount spent per pupil was in North Durham in (a) 1997, (b) 2001 and (c) the latest period for which figures are available.

Stephen Twigg: The information requested is contained within the following table:
	
		Combined LEA and school based expenditure(2)(5507350003) per pupil(4)—cash terms
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1997–98(5) 2,550 
			 2001–02 3,270 
			 2003–04 3,910 
		
	
	(2)The combined LEA and school based expenditure includes all expenditure on the education of children in LEA maintained establishments and pupils educated by the LEA other than in maintained establishments. This includes both school based expenditure and all elements of central LEA expenditure except youth and community and capital expenditure from revenue (CERA).
	(3)1997–98 financial data are taken from Revenue Outturn spending returns submitted to the ODPM 2001–02 and 2003–04 financial data are taken from Section 52 Outturn Statements submitted to the Department for Education and Skills. 2003–04 data remains provisional and is subject to change by the LEA.
	(4)Pupil figures include all pre-primary pupils, including those under 5s funded by the LEA and being educated in private settings, pupils educated in maintained mainstream schools and other LEA maintained pupils. The pupil data for pupils attending maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools are taken from the DfES Annual Schools Census. Private voluntary and independent (FVI) under 5 pupil numbers are taken from the Early Years census but are only included from 1999–2000 onwards. Other LEA maintained pupils includes all pupils attending schools not maintained by the Authority for whom the Authority is paying full tuition fees, or educated otherwise than in schools and pupil referral units under arrangements made by the Authority drawn from the Form 8b submitted to the DfES. Also included as other LEA maintained pupils are all pupils attending pupil referral units who are not registered at a maintained mainstream school drawn from the DfES Annual Schools Census. All pupil numbers are adjusted to be on a financial year basis.
	(5)Spending in 1997–98 reflects the transfer of monies from local government to central Government for the nursery vouchers scheme. These were returned to local government from 1996–99.
	Notes:
	1.Financial data are collected at local authority level and not constituency level and as such the figures provided are for Durham LEA.
	2.Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 as reported the Durham LEA at 3 February 2005.

League Tables

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the oral answer of 20 January 2005, Official Report, column 948, on league tables, what assessment her Department has made of the improvement in average results at GCSE that would be achieved if all local education authority areas were to perform at the same level as selective local education authority areas.

Stephen Twigg: holding answer 25 January 2005
	If all local education authority areas returned the same value added as selective local education authority areas, the average results would improve by nine points at GCSE, where a grade C, for example, is equal to 40points and a grade B equal to 46 points.
	However, this calculation does not take account of the different characteristics of pupils educated in different LEAs, so it does not give an estimate of the possible impact of making all LEAs selective.

New Deal for Schools

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many bids Surrey local education authority has made for funding under the New Deal for Schools; what the total monetary value of these bids is; how many grants the authority received under the New Deal for Schools; and what the total monetary value of these grants is.

Stephen Twigg: Surrey local education authority presented a total of 99 bids for New Deal for Schools between 1997 and 2002. The total monetary value for these bids amounts to £29,905,000. The number ofapproved projects was 69, with a total value of £17,575,000.

Ofsted

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what spending is planned on Ofsted for each year from 2003–04 to 2007–08; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Twigg: That is a matter for Ofsted. HM inspector, David Bell will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of his letter in the Library.

School Extensions and Repairs (Lancashire)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the capital spend on school extension repairs and classroom upgrades was in (a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley in each year since 1997.

Stephen Twigg: The table shows the capital resources allocated to Lancashire local education authority and its schools, since 1997. Decisions on how resources should be invested in schools are taken locally in accordance with the locally prepared asset management plans. Information on how resources are split between constituencies and capital spend on school extension repairs and classroom upgrades are not held centrally.
	
		
			  Lancashire LEA (£000) 
		
		
			 1997–98 13,288 
			 1998–99 19,457 
			 1999–2000 23,407 
			 2000–01 42,200 
			 2001–02 36,021 
			 2002–03 55,453 
			 2003–04 62,607 
			 2004–05 44,234

School Extensions and Repairs (Lancashire)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which schools in Chorley have benefited from new classrooms, school extensions and upgrades since 1997.

Stephen Twigg: The following table show the capital resources allocated to Lancashire local education authority and its schools, since 1997. We do not hold central information on which schools benefited from new classrooms, school extensions and upgrades. The decisions on how resources should be invested in schools are taken and held locally.
	
		
			  Lancashire LEA (£000) 
		
		
			 1997–98 13,288 
			 1998–99 19,457 
			 1999–2000 23,407 
			 2000–01 42,200 
			 2001–02 36,021 
			 2002–03 55,453 
			 2003–04 62,607 
			 2004–05 44,234

School Meals

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when Ofsted will take school meals into account during inspections as set out in the White Paper, Choosing Health: making healthy choices easier".

Stephen Twigg: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, David Bell, will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the House Library.

Science Colleges

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many entries there were at A-level in (a) physics, (b) chemistry, (c) biology and (d) mathematics from schools designated as specialist science colleges in each of the last eight years, including entries from such schools before their designation as specialist schools.

Stephen Twigg: The information requested on GCE A-level entries for 16 to 18-year-olds in specialist science colleges between 1997 and 2004 is given as follows:
	
		
			  Physics Chemistry Biology Mathematics 
		
		
			 2004 2,262 1,701 3,010 3,222 
			 2003 2,225 1,821 3,022 3,067 
			 2002 2,306 1,914 2,995 2,953 
			 2001 2,325 1,846 2,932 3,581 
			 2000 2,284 1,855 2,942 3,650 
			 1999 2,313 1,980 3,021 3,668 
			 1998 2,198 1,814 2,830 3,519 
			 1997 2,166 1,811 2,749 3,545 
		
	
	The 153 specialist science colleges included are those operational on 1 September 2004 that were published in the 2004 School and College Achievement and Attainment Tables.

Sprinklers

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her policy is on installation of sprinklers in schools; what advice she has given to schools on installation of sprinklers; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Twigg: Since April 2001, all new construction work at schools has been subject to the Building Regulations. Projects will not be approved unless they are designed in accordance with the 2000 edition of Approved Document B (Fire Safety), which accompanies the regulations. The Building Regulations do not require the installation of fire sprinkler systems in new school accommodation but that does not mean that local education authorities are prohibited from specifying their use.
	My Department's cost guidelines do not include for the cost of installation of sprinklers as standard. Where risk assessment shows that sprinklers are desirable, their costs can be included as an abnormal.
	The Department's guide Fire Safety" includes information on fire sprinklers. It states that, though expensive to install, their use may be worthwhile in schools where the risk of arson is high. In these circumstances sprinkler systems can help minimise the loss of valuable course work and teaching materials through fire, and prevent major disruption to the life of a school.

Teachers (Abuse Allegations)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills for what reasons teachers accused of assaulting pupils are not granted anonymity.

Stephen Twigg: It is not appropriate to provide anonymity for people accused of crime for a number of reasons. The principle that criminal trials should take place in open court and be freely reported is one of the key foundations of our criminal justice system. The fact that the system is open and transparent, and that the media is able to report freely what has taken place publicly in court, helps ensure public confidence in the system and helps encourage victims and witnesses to come forward. Also anonymity would raise important principles of the freedom of the press and the public interest. Publicity can work to an accused person's advantage: by helping him or her gather support and bringing to light evidence in his or her behalf. Equally there have been examples of responsible investigative journalism bringing to light cases of serious abuse that might otherwise have gone undetected.
	However, someone who is under investigation by the police but who has not been charged with a criminal offence should not be identified in the press. The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) has issued revised guidance to all police forces, applying to all offences, which makes it clear that anyone under investigation, but not charged, should not be named, or details provided to the press which might lead to their identification before they are charged.

Teachers' Pensions

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funding was provided for schools to support teachers' pensions in (a) 2003–04 and (b) 2004–05 in (i) school sixth forms and (ii) further education colleges.

Stephen Twigg: The Department does not separately allocate funds for school sixth forms or further education (FE) colleges to meet the costs of the Teachers Pension Scheme (TPS). We expect schools and colleges to meet staffing costs from funds they receive from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and other sources. The LSC funding includes provision for changes to the TPS in 2003.

Truancy

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many unauthorised absences from secondary schools there were in each (a) local education authority and (b) Government Office Region in each year since 1996–97.

Stephen Twigg: The information requested is placed in the Libraries.

Vocational Learning

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions she has had with employers' organisations on the requirements for structured work placements arising from the Tomlinson Report's recommendations on vocational learning; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Twigg: We are currently preparing a White Paper on the 14–19 phase, including our response to the recommendations of the final report of the Working Group on 14–19 Reform chaired by Mike Tomlinson. Our White Paper will include an assessment of the impact of our recommendations on the requirements for structured work placements, which we will discuss with employers' organisations.

Welsh Language Scheme

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether her Department's Welsh language scheme was approved by the Welsh Language Board; and on what date the scheme was implemented.

Stephen Twigg: The Department's Welsh Language Scheme has been prepared in accordance with section 21(3) of the Welsh Language Act 1993. The Scheme received the endorsement of the Welsh Language Board on 28 March 2000 and was implemented from 3 April 2000.

TREASURY

African Aid

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his policy for funding aid for Africa.

Stephen Timms: The UK policy for funding aid to Africa is to collaborate effectively with other donors to funding Government-owned poverty reduction plans. UK aid to Africa will rise to £1.25 billion a year by 2008, from around £864 million today. However, in order to meet the Millennium Development Goals, Africa faces a large funding gap. The UK proposes to fill this gap by working with G7 and EU countries to agree 100 per cent. multilateral debt relief and the launch of the International Finance Facility.

Correspondence

John Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to resolve the issue raised in the letter to the Inland Revenue on 19 June 2004 from the hon. Member for Bassetlaw regarding overpayments and his constituent Tracey Moore.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue wrote to the hon. Member in July 2004 in response to his letter of 19 June. They wrote to him again on 21 December 2004 in response to his further letter of 30 November. The Revenue will also be writing to his constituent shortly.

ATM Charges

John Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions his Department has had with (a) the LINK network, (b) high street banks and (c) cash machine operators on charges for use of cash machines.

Stephen Timms: Officials meet with representatives from LINK, Banks and independent operators on a regular basis to discuss this and other issues.

Breast Cancer

Simon Hughes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what percentage of breast cancer patients live for at least five years following treatment in the United Kingdom; and what the average survival rate is in the European Union.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Simon Hughes, dated 7 February 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question concerning what percentage of breast cancer patients live for at least five years following treatment in the United Kingdom; and what the average survival rate is in the European Union. (214360)
	Survival figures for the UK as a whole are not currently available. The latest available survival rates for breast cancer in England and Wales are for adult patients (aged 15–99 years) diagnosed during 1996–99 and followed up to 31 December 2001. The five-year age-standardised1 relative survival rate for female patients diagnosed with breast cancer during 1996–99 2 in England and Wales was 77.5% (125,093 patients included in analysis 3 ). These statistics are available on the National Statistics website at
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/ssdataset.asp?vlnk=7899
	The latest survival rates for breast cancer in Scotland are available on the Scottish Cancer Registry, Information and Statistics Division Scotland website:
	http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/info3.jsp?pContentID=1420i&p_ applic=CCC&p_service=Content.show&
	Figures for Northern Ireland are available on the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry website at:
	http://www.qub.ac.uk/nicr/statspages/newtables/SurvivalStats/Breast-Surv.html
	Comparable information on breast cancer survival in countries within the European Union is provided by the EUROCARE study. This covers parts of the UK and Europe.
	The most recently published results from this study provide information on survival up to five years after diagnosis for patients diagnosed with breast cancer during 1990–94 and followed up to the end of 1999. These results were published in:
	Berrino, F, Capocaccia, R, Coleman MP, et al. (editors) (2003). Survival of Cancer Patients in Europe: the EUROCARE-3 Study. Annals of Oncology. Volume 14, Supplement 5.
	This volume is available online at
	http://www.annonc.oupjournals.org/content/voll4/suppl_5/index.dtl
	1 As cancer survival varies with age at diagnosis, rates have been age standardised (directly age standardised to the 1986–90 cancer patients population) to control for changes in the age profile of cancer patients over time.
	2 Complete five-year follow-up is currently only available for those diagnosed in 1996. For patients diagnosed in later years the most up-to-date estimates of shorter-term survival were used in this analysis of survival rates.
	3 Eligible patients included in the survival analysis. The criteria for excluding patient records are given in Health Statistics Quarterly 2000; 6: 71–80, for example where the registration was of a second (different) primary cancer:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_health/HSQ6Book.pdf

Corporation Tax

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many businesses in Lancashire have benefited from corporation tax reduction since 1997.

Dawn Primarolo: Nationally nearly 600,000 companies have a corporation tax liability each year. All will benefit from the cuts in the main, small and starting companies' rates of corporation tax that have been introduced in recent years. However, it is not possible to identify precisely those businesses that trade in specific areas such as Lancashire.

Debt/Incomes

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average (a) unsecured debt per person, (b) secured debt per person and (c) annual income per person has been in each year since 1997.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Dr. Vincent Cable, dated 7 February 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question on secured and unsecured debt per person and annual income per person. I am replying in his absence. (214789)
	The information requested is shown in the table below. The data for secured debt, unsecured debt (households' total financial liabilities other than secured debt) and income (households' gross disposable income) used in the calculations are national accounts series for the combined household and non-profit institutions serving households (NPISH) sectors. The accounts for the household and NPISH sectors are currently combined: separate estimates are not available.
	For the denominator in the calculations the series used is Population aged 16+.
	
		£
		
			  Annual income per person Secured debt per person Unsecured debt per person 
		
		
			 1997 12,420 9,430 3,540 
			 1998 12,730 9,960 3,790 
			 1999 13,310 10,720 4,090 
			 2000 14,200 11,570 4,460 
			 2001 15,120 12,670 4,910 
			 2002 15,470 14,290 5,620 
			 2003 16,050 16,400 6,100

Internet Gambling

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans are being developed by Customs and Excise to levy a tax on internet gambling.

John Healey: Betting via the internet already falls within the scope of general betting duty and is taxed at 15 per cent. of gross profits. Existing social legislation makes no provision for licensing internet-based gaming so all such gaming is currently provided from outside the UK and is beyond the scope of UK tax.
	The Gambling Bill will introduce new licensing arrangements for all forms of gambling via the internet and other 'remote' media (such as mobile telephones and interactive digital TV). HM Treasury, together with HM Customs and Excise, will consider the tax implications of this as part of a wider examination of gambling taxation in the light of the Gambling Bill changes.

Life Expectancy (North-East)

Iain Wright: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the life expectancy is of (a) men and (b) women in (i) Hartlepool, (ii) Tees Valley, (iii) the North East Region and (iv) the UK.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Iain Wright, dated 7 February 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what the life expectancy is of (a) men and (b) women in (i) Hartlepool, (ii) Tees Valley, (iii)the North East Region and (iv) the UK. (213503)
	Figures for life expectancy at birth for the UK and its constituent countries are published annually by the Government Actuary's Department. Figures for life expectancy at birth for English regions and local authorities are published annually by the Office for National Statistics. Both sets of figures are based on three-year rolling averages and are calculated separately for males and females. The most recent available figures, for 2001–2003, are given in the table below.
	
		Life expectancy at birth (years) for the United Kingdom, the North-East Government Office Region, the Tees Valley Local Learning and Skills Council, and Hartlepool local authority, 2001–03
		
			  Male Female 
		
		
			 United Kingdom(6) 75.9 80.5 
			 North East(7) 74.7 79.5 
			 Tees Valley(7) 74.6 79.2 
			 Hartlepool(7) 73.4 78.4 
		
	
	Sources:
	(6)Government Actuary's Department
	(7)ONS

M&S v. Inland Revenue

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the likely reimbursement of tax revenues necessary if actions of a similar class to the Marks and Spencer case against the Inland Revenue at the European Court of Justice are successful.

Dawn Primarolo: It is impossible to assess how many other potential litigants are in the same circumstances as Marks and Spencer. Consequently, it is not possible to quantify the amount of tax potentially reimbursable.

North Durham

Kevan Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have benefited from child tax credit in North Durham since its inception.

Dawn Primarolo: Estimates of the number of in-work families receiving tax credits (broken down by families with and without children) in each constituency appear in Child and Working Tax Credit Statistics. Geographical analyses." This can be found on the Inland Revenue website at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/ stats/personal-tax-credits/menu.htm. The estimates are based on a sample of cases, and are subject to sampling uncertainty.

Population Figures

Adrian Flook: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the population was in each of the last eight years in (a) South Gloucestershire, (b) City of Bristol, (c) North Somerset, (d) Bath and North East Somerset, (e) Taunton Deane, (f) Mendip, (g) West Somerset, (h) South Somerset and (i) Sedgemoor.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibilities of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Adrian Flook, dated 7 February 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning the population of South Gloucestershire, City of Bristol, North Somerset, Bath and North East Somerset, Taunton Deane, Mendip, West Somerset, South Somerset and Sedgemoor for the last eight years. I am replying in his absence. (214650)
	The table below shows the mid-year population estimates for 1996–2003 for each of these areas.
	
		Mid-year population estimates: 1996 to 2003 -- (Thousand)
		
			 Area 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 South Gloucestershire 233.0 236.3 238.4 241.6 244.8 246.0 246.4 246.8 
			 City of Bristol 389.2 389.2 389.4 391.0 390.4 390.0 389.7 391.5 
			 North Somerset 183.2 183.8 185.9 186.7 187.7 188.8 189.7 191.4 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 163.6 164.7 166.0 167.1 168.5 169.2 169.5 170.9 
			 Taunton Deane 98.1 98.6 98.9 99.6 100.2 102.6 103.9 105.0 
			 Mendip 99.1 100.4 100.3 101.9 103.1 104.0 104.8 105.6 
			 West Somerset 33.7 33.4 33.9 34.5 34.8 35.1 35.3 35.5 
			 South Somerset 147.6 148.5 149.4 150.2 150.7 151.1 151.8 153.3 
			 Sedgemoor 101.3 102.8 103.7 104.2 105.2 106.0 107.1 108.1 
		
	
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics

Redundancies (Greater London)

Tom Cox: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many redundancies have taken place in the Greater London area in each of the last three years.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 7 February 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about redundancies in the Greater London area. (213387)
	The Labour Force Survey (LFS) provides estimates of numbers of people made redundant according to their area of usual residence. People are asked in the survey if they were made redundant in the three months before their LFS interviews.
	The attached table gives the information requested for people resident in the Greater London area.
	These estimates from Labour Force Survey (LFS) are, as with those from any statistical sample survey, subject to sampling variability.
	
		People resident in Greater London who were made redundant -- Not seasonally adjusted
		
			 Three months ending November Levels Rate per 1,000 employees(8) 
		
		
			 2002 17,000 5.6 
			 2003 16,000 5.7 
			 2004 17,000 5.8 
		
	
	(8)Denominator for rate is the number of employees in the previous quarter.
	Source:
	ONS Labour Force Survey

Small Firms

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes his Department has made since 2001 to the way in which small firms are required to calculate the tax due on profits.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government want a simple and fair tax system for all small firms. To this end, they have made amendments to the rules relating to income tax and corporation tax in each Finance Act since 2001. These have not changed the basic calculation of profits for the purpose, which is income less deductions. These changes have however affected the ways in which many small firms are required or entitled to adjust their profits and take into account reliefs and allowances to calculate the tax due.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1) how many compensatory payments have been made by the Inland Revenue for errors in tax credit payments in (a) 2002–03, (b) 2003–04 and (c) 2004–05; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what his latest estimate is of the number of compensation claims for tax credits errors by the Inland Revenue under the Code of Practice for Complaints in (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04; how many claims have been authorised for compensation; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The circumstances in which the Inland Revenue will make compensation payments to its customers are explained in the Department's Code of Practice 1 Putting things right" which is available at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk. The Department will pay compensation for reasonable costs incurred as a direct result of their mistakes or delays and to recognise worry and distress caused by those mistakes and delays.
	The Department will make a compensation payment if they believe it is justified even if the customer has not asked for compensation. For compensation payments in 2002–03 I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Hamilton, South (Mr. Tynan) on 23 June 2004, Official Report, column 1411W.
	For the number of compensation payments in 2003–04, I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Northaven (Mr. Webb) and to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 20 July 2004, Official Report, columns 191–92W.
	For the number of compensation payments made between 1 April and 31 December I refer the hon. Member to the reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field), on 31 January 2005, Official Report, column 599W.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the computer problems which have been experienced by the Inland Revenue Tax Credits department over the last 18 months.

Dawn Primarolo: The IT support for New Tax Credits is a major new system.
	The system has been stable and performing very well in terms of availability and speed for well over a year.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the total (a) number and (b) monetary value of overpayments of (i) child tax credit and (ii) working credit in (A) 2002–03 and (B)2003–04; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: For working tax credit and child tax credit, I refer my hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Members for Northavon (Mr. Webb) and for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 15 November 2004, Official Report, columns 946–48W.
	For working families and disabled person's tax credits I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Eddisbury (Mr. O'Brien) on 12 November 2003, Official Report, column 394W.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1) how many incorrect payments of tax credits have been made by the Inland Revenue in (a) 2002–03, (b) 2003–04 and (c) 2004–05; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what his latest estimate is of the percentage error rate on payment of tax credits in 2003–04; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for High Peak (Tom Levitt), on 26 January 2005, Official Report, column 407W.
	The Department expects the level of processing accuracy in the current year to be markedly better than last year, in line with its target to decide 90 per cent. of tax credit claims, changes and renewals accurately. It will publish its performance against the current year's target in its Annual Report in due course.

Tax Credits

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy not to reclaim overpaid tax credits where the Department is responsible for overpayment.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue's Code of Practice 26 (What happens if we have paid you too much tax credit?") sets out their approach to handling overpayments of tax credits.
	A claimant will not be asked to pay back an overpayment where it was caused by a mistake by the Inland Revenue and it was reasonable for the claimant to think their award was right.
	The Inland Revenue may also decide that a claimant should not be asked to pay back all or part of an overpayment, if this would cause hardship to the claimant and his/her family.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the number of (a) child and (b) working tax credit applications in (i) 2003–04 and (ii) 2004–05; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: For the numbers of families who have successfully claimed tax credits in 2003–04 and 2004–05, I refer my hon. Member to 'Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics'. These publications can be found on the Inland Revenue website, at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/menu.htm. The estimates are based on a sample of cases, and are subject to sampling uncertainty.
	Numbers of families who have only made unsuccessful applications for tax credits are not available.

Tax Returns

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of persons filing tax returns late for 2003–04 were (a) pensioners and (b) self-employed.

Dawn Primarolo: Data in respect of 2003–04 returns (which were due back to the Inland Revenue by 31 January 2005) is not yet available.

Tax Returns

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what mitigating circumstances would prevent the application of financial penalties to people failing to file tax returns on time.

Dawn Primarolo: A person is deemed not to have failed to deliver his tax return on time if he had a reasonable excuse for being late and where the return is delivered without unreasonable delay once that excuse has ceased. There is, sensibly, no definitive or exhaustive list of the circumstances that can constitute a reasonable excuse as this is a matter that can be considered properly only on a case by case basis.

Unemployment

Simon Hughes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the levels of long-term (a) adult and (b) youth unemployment were in North Southwark and Bermondsey in each of the last eight years.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Simon Hughes, dated 7 February 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about unemployment. (214331)
	Table 1 gives estimates of the numbers of long-term unemployed people, both youth and adult, who were resident in the North Southwark and Bermondsey Parliamentary Constituency, for each twelve month period ending February from 1999 to 2004, the most recent available period. Information on length of time unemployed is not available for earlier periods.
	These estimates from Labour Force Survey are, as with any sample survey, subject to sampling variability.
	The Office for National Statistics also compiles statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance for local areas. Table 2 gives the annual average number of young people aged 18 to 24 years old and adults (aged 25 and over) resident in the North Southwark and Bermondsey constituency claiming Jobseeker's Allowance benefits for over 12 months or more in each year from 1997 to 2004.
	
		Table 1: Long-term(9) unemployment among people resident in North Southwark and Bermondsey parliamentary constituency
		
			 12 months ending February Youth (aged 16–24) Adult (aged 25 and over) 
		
		
			 1999 1,000 1,000 
			 2000 (10)— 2,000 
			 2001 (10)— 2,000 
			 2002 (10)— 1,000 
			 2003 (10)— 1,000 
			 2004 (10)— 2,000 
		
	
	(9)People unemployed for 12 months or more.
	(10)Estimates not shown as they are potentially disclosive.
	Note:
	These estimates are based on very small sample sizes and are subject to a high degree of sampling variability. Changes from year to year, especially should be treated with caution.
	Source:
	ONS Labour Force Survey
	
		Table 2: JSA claimants resident in the North Southwark and Bermondsey constituency claiming for 12 months or more
		
			  Annual averages Youth claimants (aged 18–24)(11) Adult claimants (aged 25 and over)(11) 
		
		
			 1997 310 1,980 
			 1998 185 1,430 
			 1999 85 1,445 
			 2000 50 1,370 
			 2001 30 1,065 
			 2002 35 1,025 
			 2003 45 1,115 
			 2004 55 1,160 
		
	
	(11)Computerised claims only.
	Source:
	Jobcentre Plus Administrative system

Working Tax Credit

Mark Todd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will extend entitlement to the child care element of working tax credit to a couple where one person is engaged in qualifying remunerative work and the other is a student nurse.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government have no such plans.
	The child care element of working tax credit is designed to help remove the child care barrier that often prevents people taking up or returning to work. It is only available if the claimant is:
	a lone parent working at least 16 hours a week
	a member of a couple who both work at least 16 hours a week, or
	a member of a couple in which one partner works 16 hours or more a week and the other partner is incapacitated/ in hospital or in prison.
	Attendance on a course of study does not qualify as the work requirement for these purposes.

DEFENCE

Hercules Aircraft

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Hercules C130J and C130K aircraft have a full defensive aids suite.

Geoff Hoon: All of the Hercules C130K fleet and about half of the 25 Hercules C130J fleet are equipped withinfra-red defensive countermeasures. Additionally, some of these aircraft have an enhanced defensive capability. Only Hercules with appropriate defensive countermeasures are deployed to operational theatres. Other Hercules are used on routine air transport tasks elsewhere.

Military Conduct (Detainees)

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to end all hooding of detainees by members of the armed forces; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: In line with long standing policy, the United Kingdom's Armed Forces do not use hooding during interrogation. Hooding has been used while detaining suspects in Iraq, both for security of our own Forces and of the detainees, it is not being used currently. The Ministry Of Defence is reviewing its policy for the restricting of a detainee's vision during arrest and transit.

Afghanistan

Nick Palmer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the security situation in Afghanistan.

Adam Ingram: Security in Afghanistan continues to improve in the wake of last year's Presidential elections, and in the run up to this year's parliamentary elections, which will represent the culmination of the Bonn Process. The UK, with international partners, will continue to support the International Security Assistance Force, including through the deployment of HQ Allied Rapid Reaction Corps to command ISAF in 2006.

Future Infantry Structure

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with serving and retired service men and women about the conduct of the future infantry structure exercise.

Geoff Hoon: I have had a number of discussions with the Chief of the General Staff and other members of the Army Board. In addition, in the course of visits to units both here and overseas I have discussed these issues with other serving members of the Army. I have also met and received representations from a number of retired Service personnel on behalf of various regiments and Regimental Associations.

Iraq

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the security situation in Iraq.

Geoff Hoon: Over the election period, insurgents and extremists continued in their efforts to destabilise the progress that is being made towards a stable and democratic Iraq. Despite this, elections took place successfully as planned, with initial indications of a high turn out and less violence than many anticipated. This reflects the thoroughness of the security arrangements put in place by the Iraqi Security Forces, the efforts of the Multi National Force-Iraq in support, and the determination of the Iraqi people to exercise their democratic rights.

Iraq

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of possible damage caused to sites of archaeological and historical significance by the British Army in Iraq;
	(2)  what consultations he has had with (a) the Iraqi State Board of Antiquities and (b) British archaeologists and scholars regarding the impact of the activities of the British Army in Iraq;
	(3)  what plans he has to aid the (a) restoration and (b) preservation of sites of archaeological and historical significance in Iraq;
	(4)  what provisions he has made to ensure the protection of sites of archaeological and historical interest in areas where the British Army are serving in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The United Kingdom takes very seriously the need to respect Iraq's cultural heritage. We are not aware of any assessments identifying damage done to sites of archaeological and historical significance by the British Army in Iraq. We have, however, taken a number of steps to minimise the risk. This includes being a signatory to the 1977 Additional Protocol (AP1) of the 1949 Geneva Conventions. Under the terms of AP1, civilian objects are to be protected from attack unless that object is being used for military purposes, in which case it may lose its special protected status. An aide memoire is also issued to all UK service personnel deploying under Operation Telic, which reminds service personnel of their obligation under AP1. The leaflet contains a pictorial example of the protective emblem that can be used under the Hague Cultural Property Convention 1954, to which Iraq is a full signatory, to denote buildings used for religion, art, science, charity, historical monuments, or other important cultural sites. During the combat phase of Operation Telic, legal advisors briefed commanders deploying to theatre about the importance of protecting cultural property. Further guidance was, and continues to be available in the rules of engagement and the targeting directive.
	In addition to operating under AP1, we are signatories to UNSCR 1546, which stresses that all parties need to respect and protect Iraq's archaeological, historical, cultural, and religious heritage. HMG also recently announced its intention to take forward the ratification of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict.
	The Secretary of State for Defence has not had any direct consultations with the Iraqi State Board of Antiquities or British archaeologists and scholars regarding the impact of activities of the British Army in Iraq. We do, however, work in partnership with other Departments who take the lead on this issue. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department of Culture, Media and Sport, have regular discussions with the Iraqi Ministry of Culture on these issues. The UK has provided support to the British Museum to enable them to help the Iraqi Ministry assess the damage caused to archaeological sites in Iraq and to ensure their future protection.

Airborne Forces

Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) soldiers and (b) officers in the Army are employed on full-time duties concerned with maintaining airborne forces in role.

Ivor Caplin: Within Joint Helicopter Command, which is responsible for delivering the Army's airborne capability, there are 118 officer and 2,536 soldier posts of REME and RLC combined.

Anthrax Vaccines (Gulf Wars)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received on adverse reactions by service personnel and their families who received anthrax vaccines prior to each war in the Gulf.

Ivor Caplin: Potential adverse reactions to the anthrax vaccine are well known and may include a mild rash or swelling at the site of injection or at the site of an earlier injection and may last for a couple of days. More rarely, swollen glands, mild fever, flu-like symptoms, rash, itching or other allergic reactions may occur. No representations on adverse reactions, other than a small number for those issues described above, have been received.

Anthrax Vaccines (Gulf Wars)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel and their families involved in each war in the Gulf who received anthrax vaccine have reported (a) miscarriages, (b) infant mortalities and (c) other illnesses; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: Responsibility for treating Service and ex-Service personnel and their families and reporting adverse reactions rests with Service Medical Officers and GPs. The Ministry of Defence has received no reports of miscarriages, infant mortalities or other illnesses from personnel who received the Anthrax vaccine, other than the expected minor side-effects. The Health Protection Agency has advised that there is no biologically plausible mechanism to explain how a baby could be harmed by an inactivated (non-live) vaccine such as Anthrax given pre-conception to either parent.

Anthrax Vaccines (Gulf Wars)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has received from the US Administration or its agencies relating to illnesses suffered by service people and their families as a result of anthrax vaccinations.

Ivor Caplin: The Ministry of Defence's information from the United States on such matters has been drawn from published sources.

Anthrax Vaccines (Gulf Wars)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the constituent parts of the anthrax vaccine given to Defence personnel were in each war in the Gulf; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: The anthrax vaccine given to United Kingdom defence personnel is the same as that used for civilians in the UK and its composition has not changed since the vaccine was licensed in 1979. The active ingredient is a sterile filtrate of an alum precipitated anthrax antigen in a solution for injection. The other ingredients are aluminium potassium sulphate, sodium chloride and purified water and the preservative is thiomersal at 0.005 per cent. The composition of the current UK licensed anthrax vaccine is available on the Health Protection Agency website.

Anthrax Vaccines (Gulf Wars)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what evidence has been (a) found by and (b) reported to his Department's medical services of clusters of persons suffering ill health who were associated with the anthrax vaccine given to service personnel in each of the wars in the Gulf.

Ivor Caplin: None.

Anthrax Vaccines (Gulf Wars)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will commission research into whether carbohydrate-deficient glycoprotein syndrome has been a result of reactions to the anthrax vaccine given to personnel in each war in the Gulf; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: We are aware of no published clinical evidence to support an association between carbohydrate-deficient glycoprotein syndrome and the anthrax vaccine and are not commissioning any research.

Chartered Aircraft

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much money his Department has spent on chartering aircraft in each of the past five years.

Adam Ingram: In financial years 2002–03 and 2003–04, the Ministry of Defence spent some £59.811 million and £56.408 million respectively on chartering aircraft. These figures are provisional and subject to final audit. In the current financial year ending March 2005, it is estimated that the likely spend will be some £33.986 million. The files on aircraft charters in previous financial years are now archived and the costs of those charters are not held in a form which could be easily extracted and without disproportionate cost.

Defence Agencies' Staff

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people work for the (a) Defence Geographic and Imagery Intelligence Agency, (b) Defence Housing Executive and (c) Defence Intelligence and Security Centre; how many are employed in Scotland; and what the personnel costs of each agency (i) are in 2004–05 and (ii) were in 2003–04.

Ivor Caplin: As of 1 April 2004, the Defence Geographic and Imagery Intelligence Agency (DGIA) employed 1,450 staff, though none in Scotland. The Defence Housing Executive (DHE) merged with Defence Estates on 1 April 2004 and meaningful current staff figures cannot therefore be provided. However, on 1 April 2003 DHE employed 880 staff, all civilians, of which 90 were based in Scotland. As of 1 April 2004, the Defence Intelligence and Security Centre (DISC) employed 470 staff, though none in Scotland.
	The personnel costs for DGIA and DISC in 2004–05 will be available in their respective 2004–05 annual reports and accounts, which will be published later this year.
	The personnel costs for DGIA, DISC, and DHE in 2003–04 can be found in the Agencies' Annual Reports and Accounts, which are available in the Library of the House.

Defence Agencies' Staff

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much of its personnel budget the Defence Medical Education and Training Agency spent in Scotland in (a) monetary terms and (b) as a percentage of the total personnel budget in (a) 2003–04 and (b) 2002–03; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: The Defence Medical Education and Training Agency (DMETA) was established on 1 April 2003, so no figures are available for the 2002–03 financial year. In the financial year 2003–04 DMETA spent £80,000 on personnel in Scotland, which is 0.08 per cent. of the agency's total personnel budget.

Defence Contracts

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which companies hold the largest defence contract with his Department.

Adam Ingram: The company with the largest defence contract, by value, placed by the Ministry of Defence is with QinetiQ and covers a Long Term Partnering Agreement for Test and Training Support Services.

Defence Employment (Scotland)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people work for the MoD Police; how many are employed in Scotland; what the figures were in each case in January 2004; what the personnel costs of the Agency are in 2004–05; and what they were in 2003–04.

Ivor Caplin: The number of personnel working for the Ministry of Defence Police (police officers and civilians) in financial year 2004–05 was 3,736.8 as at 31 December 2004.
	The number of personnel working for the MOD Police in Scotland in financial year 2004–05 was 828 as at 31 December 2004.
	The full personnel costs of the Agency will not be known until the end of the financial year, the budget in financial year 2004–05 is £158.644 million.
	The number of personnel working for the MOD Police in January 2004 was 3,650.5.
	The number of personnel working for the MOD Police in Scotland in January 2004 were 835.5. The personnel costs of the Agency in January 2004 were £13.018 million.

Defence Employment (Scotland)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people work for the Defence Estates Agency; how many are employed in Scotland; and what the personnel costs of the agency (i) are in 2004–05 and (ii) were in 2003–04.

Ivor Caplin: The Agency currently employs 2,480 civilian and service staff of which 230 civilians are based in Scotland. UK location data of Service personnel are published in the document governing UK Regular Forces Distribution across the UK. The Defence Analytical Services Agency is, however, currently reviewing the source data and process by which location statistics are produced. The outcome of this review is due to be announced shortly.
	The personnel costs of the Agency were £86 million in 2003–04, including salaries, performance pay or bonuses, overtime, allowances, social security costs and other pension costs but excluding the costs of any early retirements.
	Personnel costs for 2004–05 will not be finalised until April 2005. These costs will, however, appear in the Agency's Annual Report and Accounts which will be published before the summer recess and a copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

Departmental Costs

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was paid to consultants carrying outstaff surveys in the Department in each year since 1997.

Ivor Caplin: Ministry of Defence expenditure on external assistance, of which consultancy is a part, is available in the Libraries of both Houses for the years 1995–96 to 2003–04. While this is broken down by various categories, the MOD does not capture and record specific expenditure on consultants carrying out staff surveys. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Costs

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the costs of cleaning the Department were in each year since 1997.

Ivor Caplin: Information on expenditure on cleaning costs incurred for each year since 1997 is not separately identified in the accounting records and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Costs

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the costs of departmental (a) staff training days and (b) staff development days held away from the Department were in each year since 1997.

Ivor Caplin: The Ministry of Defence does not hold central records for the information sought, and to collect the information would be at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Costs

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent on (a) provision of parking spaces for civil servants and (b) parking tickets and penalties incurred by civil servants in the Department in each year since 1997.

Ivor Caplin: The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Parking tickets and penalties incurred by civil servants remain the responsibility of the individuals.

Departmental Policies (Clwyd, South)

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Clwyd, South constituency, the effects on Clwyd, South of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Ivor Caplin: The Ministry of Defence has a small presence within Clwyd, solely in the form of four Army Cadet Force centres, one of which is shared with the Air Training Corps. They have not undergone any significant changes since 1997.
	In 2001, the Defence Procurement Agency placed a five year contract with Ruth Lee Ltd. of Corwen, who design and manufacture fire and rescue equipment.

Future Rapid Effects System

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the development of the Future Rapid Effects System.

Adam Ingram: FRES is in the early stages of the initial Assessment Phase. This phase will define the FRES capability and the optimum strategy for acquiring it.
	Atkins, under the strategic direction of the Department, will lead a number of activities during this phase to inform the Ministry of Defence's future decision making.
	The next key milestone is the award of contracts designed to better understand, and where necessary mitigate, the risks associated with the physical and electronic architecture of the vehicles. It is planned to have these contracts in place by the end of March 2005.

Iran

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether there are security implications relating to signals equipment, frequencies and codes arising from the seizure by Iran of UK armed forces' equipment.

Adam Ingram: There are none.

Military Death (Amesbury)

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the circumstances were of the death of a soldier who was crushed when an armoured vehicle overturned in Amesbury, Wiltshire in the first week of December 2004; to what regiment those involved belonged; when he expects an inquest to be held; what steps have been taken to establish a Board of Inquiry into the incident; and at what time and date the Health and Safety Executive were informed of the incident.

Ivor Caplin: The incident in question was a road traffic accident involving a Saxon armoured vehicle, which occurred on 3 December 2004, on the A345 between Netheravon and Figheldean. Two soldiers of 1st Battalion the Coldstream Guards were involved, one of whom died. The circumstances are subject to an ongoing investigation by the Wiltshire police. A Service Board of Inquiry was convened on 6 December 2004. The Health and Safety Executive has not been informed, as is usual when the police do not consider that an accident is work-related.
	The inquest to determine the cause of death is a matter for HM coroner.

Operative Activities (Expenditure)

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the net cash outflow from operating activities in financial year 2003–04 was by the (a) British Forces Cyprus, (b) British Forces Gibraltar, (c) Permanent Joint Headquarters, (d) Sovereign Base Areas Administration and (e) British Forces Falkland Islands management groups.

Adam Ingram: The Chief of Joint Operations (CJO) Top Level Budget TLB net cash outflow, net of operations, from operating activities in financial year 2003–04 was as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 British Forces Cyprus 166 
			 British Forces Gibraltar 61 
			 Permanent Joint Headquarters 63 
			 Sovereign Base Areas Administration 12 
			 British Forces Falkland Islands 69 
		
	
	The operations cash flow was:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 British Forces Cyprus 7 
			 British Forces Gibraltar 1 
			 Permanent Joint Headquarters 252 
			 Sovereign Base Areas Administration 0 
			 British Forces Falkland Islands 0

Pilning Rifle Range

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his plans for the Pilning Rifle Range.

Ivor Caplin: Following discussions with English Nature, the site was placed on the open market, with best bids invited by 13 December 2004. Four offers were received and were being considered, when a revised proposal was submitted by one bidder. This is now being investigated in line with the requirements of Government Accounting.

RAF Machrihanish

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to change RAF Machrihanish from enhanced care and maintenance status; when this status was last (a) reviewed and (b) changed; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: The Ministry of Defence has no current plans to change the present care and maintenance status for the former RAF station. This status was last reviewed when the site transferred to Defence Estates in August 2000.

Service Dentistry

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what cosmetic dental work is offered to military personnel by service dentists; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: Service dentists provide a full range of treatment, similar to that available from NHS providers, for functional and reparative purposes and in doing so aim to achieve a good aesthetic result for the patient.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  if he will list the attributable interviews that his Department's special advisers gave to (a) newspapers, (b) journals, (c) books and (d) other media in their official capacity between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004;
	(2)  if he will list the attributable (a) articles and (b) contributions that his Department's special advisers made to (i) newspapers, (ii) journals, (iii) books and (iv) other media in their official capacity between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004.

Ivor Caplin: All special advisers' contacts with the media are conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers".

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints were made by departmental civil servants regarding the conduct of special advisers between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004.

Ivor Caplin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the then Minister for the Cabinet Office (Ruth Kelly) on 8 December 2004, Official Report, column 578W.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether departmental special advisers have made appearances before parliamentary Select Committees in their official capacity since May 1997.

Ivor Caplin: No departmental special advisers have made appearances before parliamentary Select Committees in their official capacity since May 1997.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the contracts signed by his special advisers differ from the Model Contract for Special Advisers.

Ivor Caplin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 17 January 2005, Official Report, column 753W.

Torture-obtained Information

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has used information obtained by the use of torture by another country since May 1997.

Geoff Hoon: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs gave to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 11 January 2005, Official Report, column 413W.

Veterans' Appeals Panel

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to establish an appeals panel, independent of his Department, for veterans whose claims have been rejected by the Discretionary Award Panel and the Discretionary Award Appeals Panel; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: Any claimant whose case has been rejected by the Ministry of Defence's Discretionary Award Appeals Panel has the right to appeal to the independent Pensions Ombudsman, and after that to the High Court on points of law. Under the new Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, appeals against MOD decisions on attributable awards relating to deaths, injuries or illnesses which were caused on or after 6 April 2005, will be heard by the independent Pension Appeals Tribunal.

Wounded British Soldiers

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions he has visited wounded British soldiers in the UK in the last 24 months.

Geoff Hoon: holding answer 24 January 2005
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 2 February 2005, Official Report, column 899W to the hon. Member for North Tayside (Mr. Wishart).

PRIME MINISTER

Arctic Convoys

Mike Hancock: To ask the Prime Minister what method was used to select the invitees to the reception to be held in Downing Street on 7 March in recognition of those who served on the Arctic Convoys during the Second World War; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: Representatives of the three main veterans' organisations associated with the wartime convoys to Northern Russia, namely the Russian Convoy Club, North Russia Club and the Merchant Navy Association, were invited to submit the names and addresses of veterans, including spouses/carers where required, who might be able and willing to attend the reception.

Arctic Convoys

Mike Hancock: To ask the Prime Minister whether he plans to announce a decision on 7 March on whether to award a medal specific to those who served in the Arctic Convoys; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: Those who took part in the wartime convoys to Russia were honoured at the time with the Atlantic Star. This remains the position. However, the Government continue to consider this matter.

Committee on Standards in Public Life

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Prime Minister what the average cost of an inquiry by the Committee on Standards in Public Life has been in the last 12-month period for which figures are available.

Tony Blair: The Committee on Standards in Public Life published its 10th report Getting the Balance Right: Implementing Standards of Conduct in Public Life" on 19 January 2005 copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House. The costs of the 10th inquiry are set out in the report. No other inquiries were undertaken by the committee in the last 12 months.

European Constitution

John Hayes: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 31 January 2005, Official Report, column583W, on the European Constitution, 
	(1)  if he will list the stakeholders and their affiliation; if he will list the meetings held; on what documents the discussions have been based; and if he will place copies in the Library;
	(2)  if he will list the officials authorised to participate in such discussions; and whether Civil Service codes of conduct apply to such discussions.

Tony Blair: I have nothing further to add to my answer of 31 January 2004, Official Report, column 583W. All meetings are conducted in accordance with the Ministerial Code, the Civil Service Code and the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.

Freedom of Information

Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister if he will arrange for (a) a link to the publication scheme for his Office and (b) an email address for applications for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to be placed on his Office's website.

Tony Blair: For these purposes my office forms part of the Cabinet Office. A link to the Cabinet Office's publication scheme is available on the No. 10 website. The email address for requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 can be found in the Cabinet Office's publication scheme.

Her Majesty the Queen

Steve Webb: To ask the Prime Minister how often he meets Her Majesty the Queen; and when the last such meeting took place.

Tony Blair: I meet Her Majesty the Queen at various functions and events. In addition, with the exception of those occasions when Her Majesty the Queen has not been in London or I have been abroad or in Northern Ireland, I have been received in audience on the usual weekly basis since May 1997.

Iraq

Mike Hancock: To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has made concerning the ill treatment of prisoners by Iraqi forces in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: The Government are engaged in a frequent dialogue with the Iraqi Government about the need to respect human rights. We are offering support to the Human Rights Ministry in Baghdad and through a team of prison officers and police experts in Basra to advise and mentor their Iraqi colleagues in better prison management in the South of Iraq.
	My Special Representative on Human Rights in Iraq, my hon. Friend the Member for Cynon Valley (Ann Clwyd), raised our concerns with the head of the Southern Iraq Office of the Ministry of Human Rights while she was in Basra on 1 February.

Lord Birt

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  what reports and recommendations by Lord Birt in the course of his work in (a) the Cabinet Office and (b) as an adviser to him are available to hon. Members;
	(2)  if he will list the reports compiled for him by Lord Birt in each of the last four years; and in what policy areas he has been advised by him.

Tony Blair: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my noble Friend the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 2 February 2005, Official Report, House of Lords, c. WA53–54.

Lord Birt

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Prime Minister what grade of security clearance is accorded to Lord Birt; what secretarial and research backing he is given; and where his desk is located.

Tony Blair: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given my noble Friend the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 2 February 2005, Official Report, House of Lords, c. WA53–54.
	Lord Birt has the appropriate level of security clearance to do his job.

Ministerial Visits

Pete Wishart: To ask the Prime Minister how many times he has made an official visit to (a) an injured soldier and (b) bereaved families of soldiers.

Tony Blair: I have visited members of the armed forces both in the United Kingdom and abroad, and have met injured personnel on these occasions.
	I also met several bereaved families at the Remembrance Ceremony at St. Paul's Cathedral in October 2003. I express my deepest sympathy to all families who have lost loved ones, as well as my sincerest and most heartfelt gratitude for the sacrifice made by those injured and killed in the course of duty.

Nelson Mandela

Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister when he last met Mr. Nelson Mandela; and what matters were discussed.

Tony Blair: I last met Nelson Mandela on 3 February 2004 during his visit to London. We discussed a wide range of issues, including The Commission for Africa and the UK's Presidency of the G8 this year.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Aerospace Industry

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the current levels of employment in the UK aerospace industry.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Employment in the UK aerospace industry increased by over 4 per cent. to 121,979 between 2002 and 2003 1 .
	1 UK Aerospace Facts and Figures 2003—Society of British Aerospace Companies

Animal Experiments

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what incentives are offered by the Government to UK manufacturers who choose not to carry out experimental testing on animals.

Patricia Hewitt: Under UK and international law new products must be tested for the purposes of environmental, workplace and consumer safety. This may involve the use of animals. If so, the use will be licensed under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
	The principles of the Act are that animal testing may only be licensed if there are no non-animal alternatives and, where animals must be used, their numbers and suffering are to be minimised. The number of animal procedures performed each year has been falling steadily and is now at half the level it was 30 years ago. Since 1998, there has been a ban on the use of animals to test cosmetics.
	The Government recognise that there are concerns about this issue and take a leading role in Europe in encouraging the development and adoption of alternatives to all forms of animal use in science. In May 2004 we established the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs), which will also be working with regulators on the acceptance of alternative methods for regulatory toxicology. The National Centre has funding of over £600,000.

Arms Sales (Indonesia)

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what date the Export Credits Guarantee Department issued guarantees to Alvis in connection with the sale of Scorpion and Stormer vehicles to Indonesia.

Douglas Alexander: holding answer 4 February 2005
	30 January 1995 and 30 September 1996.

Ellington Colliery

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much in public funds has been made available to UK Coal in support of Ellington Colliery, Northumberland.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 3 February 2005
	Ellington Colliery did not receive any support under the UK Coal Operating Aid Scheme during 2000–02. In 2004, UK Coal plc. was allocated £2.168 million of Coal Investment Aid to support planned investment spend at Ellington to March 2006. One payment of £850,000 has been made from this award. This represented 28.73 per cent. reimbursement of approved investment costs incurred and defrayed during January-September 2004.

Equal Opportunities

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assistance has been given to small charities and religious organisations to ensure that they are able to comply with the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 and the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 4 February 2005
	In addition to press and online promotional campaigns, information sessions (including a number specifically aimed at religious and other voluntary sector organisations), and Acas-published practical guidance on promoting equality in the workplace, the DTI has provided specific support for voluntary and community sector organisations on the Employment Equality Regulations. In 2003–04, £625,000 was made available for a range of projects across Great Britain looking at producing and disseminating guidance, training and information materials. In 2004–05, funding was more than doubled to £1.4 million. Much of the funding was directed at meeting the specific needs of religious organisations, lesbian, gay and bisexual groups and other voluntary sector organisations and their client and constituency groups.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the Scientific Steering Committee met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The EU Scientific Committee, CREST (Comite de Recherche Scientifique et Technique) met 10times in total during the Italian, Irish and Dutch Presidencies.
	During the Italian Presidency, meetings took place on 5 September, and 5 December and in Genoa on 27 October 2003. During the Irish Presidency, meetings took place in Brussels on 29 January and 29 June and in Galway on 1 April 2004. During the Dutch Presidency, meetings took place in Brussels on 16 July, 1 October and 10 December and in Enschede on 21 October 2004.
	Officials from the Office of Science and Technology (DTI) represented the UK at all of the above meetings. Additionally Research Councils UK attended one meeting where the agenda called for their expertise in the governance of basic research systems.

Export Credits Guarantee Department

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much of the Renewable Energy Initiative of the Export Credits Guarantee Department has been allocated to projects; and if she will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: holding answer 3 February 2005
	While the Renewable Energy Initiative continues to produce a number of inquiries to ECGD, none of these prospects has yet developed to the stage of becoming firm business. As a result, none of the available ECGD cover has yet been allocated.

Export Credits Guarantee Department

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what financial support has been made available in each year since 1997 through the Export Credits Guarantee Department for (a) fossil fuel power plants and (b) carbon capture and storage sequestration technology, broken down by country of receipt.

Douglas Alexander: The value of guarantees issued by ECGD year-by-year since 1997 in respect of the construction of fossil fuel power plants is:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 1998  
			 Anguilla 1 
			 Brazil 12 
			 China 233 
			 St. Kitts and Nevis 7 
			 Turkey 18 
			 Zimbabwe 9 
			 1999  
			 Egypt 7 
			 India 84 
			 Malaysia 756 
			 Mexico 12 
			 Oman 30 
			 Taiwan 106 
			 Vietnam 24 
			 2000  
			 Dominican Republic 19 
			 Mexico 63 
			 Philippines 58 
			 Taiwan 18 
			 Turkey 43 
			 2001  
			 Bangladesh 6 
			 Brazil 8 
			 Turkey 31 
			 2002  
			 Israel 16 
		
	
	ECGD has not been approached to provide support for carbon capture and storage sequestration technology products.

Export Volumes

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the volume of UK exports to (a) the USA and (b) China was in each of the last 10 years.

Douglas Alexander: Data on the UK's exports of goods and services to the USA and China are given in the following table. Data in volume terms are not available on an individual country basis.
	
		UK exports of goods and services to USA and China 1994–2003 -- £ million
		
			  Current prices 
			  USA China 
		
		
			 1994 27,044 1,057 
			 1995 28,507 1,038 
			 1996 32,917 976 
			 1997 35,199 1,143 
			 1998 36,219 1,156 
			 1999 41,388 1,659 
			 2000 48,191 1,911 
			 2001 48,025 2,307 
			 2002 49,747 2,190 
			 2003 50,914 2,750 
		
	
	Source:
	United Kingdom Balance of Payments (The Pink Book), ONS

Mobile Phones

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will invite the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services to regulate the marketing of mobile phone services to ensure that it is possible readily to terminate the service, with particular reference to (a) ring tones and (b) jokes.

Mike O'Brien: The Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services (ICSTIS) already regulates the marketing and overall operation of mobile phone services such as ring tones and jokes when they are charged for by premium rate. As a principle, consumers should be able to leave mobile phone services (such as ringtones and jokes) as easily as they can join them—and whenever they choose to do so.
	In cases where consumers have been unable to unsubscribe to a service—for example, due to an overcomplicated or convoluted procedure aimed at delaying or preventing someone from opting out of the service—ICSTIS has found these services to be in breach of its Code of Practice (provision on vulnerability). In such cases ICSTIS has imposed fines and/or instructed that access to the service is barred.
	The Government and ICSTIS welcomed the recent decision by the mobile networks to formalise the common stop command, ensuring a single common policy for the regulation of subscription services paid for by premium rate SMS. The common stop command is 'stop'.

Mobile Phones

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate her Department has made of how many mobile phones were sold in each of the last five years; what percentage she estimates have become redundant; and what percentage she estimates have been (a) recycled and (b) otherwise disposed of.

Mike O'Brien: No data were readily available on the number of handsets sold per year in the last five years. However, industry estimates that 18 million handsets, are replaced every year and that in total over the last two years there have been about five million handsets taken by mobile phone recycling and refurbishment companies in the UK. It is further estimated by industry that about 60 per cent. of the handsets taken for recycling and refurbishment have been refurbished and tested in the UK and then sold for re-use abroad, mostly to Eastern Europe, Asia and Africa. The remaining 40 per cent. have been sent for materials recycling.

Post Offices

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to increase the extent to which the availability of the Post Office cheque payment service is advertised.

Chris Pond: I have been asked to reply.
	There are no plans to do this.
	Direct Payment is now the normal method of payment for benefits and pensions. The Government have always made it clear that there would be an alternative for the minority of people who are genuinely unable to be paid by Direct Payment into an account. The cheque payment was therefore designed in consultation with a range of customer representative groups and detailed information about it was circulated to them and to all hon. Members in May of last year.
	At the end of the conversion process those customerswho have not provided account details will automatically be moved to the cheque method of payment, which can be cashed at a Post Office, or can be paid into a bank account.

Power Station (Plymouth)

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the effect on the creation of new jobs on land at Langage Plymouth of delays in progress with the power station project; if she will vitiate the licence granted in respect thereof; and if she will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The Secretary of State granted consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 to build a 1,010MW CCGT station at Langage on 20 November 2000. The consent is valid for five years and it is a commercial decision for the developer as to when to start construction.

Renewable Energy

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much energy generated in the UK in 2003–04 was derived from (a) wind energy, (b) solar power and (c) biomass.

Mike O'Brien: The information is as follows:
	(a) In 2003 wind energy accounted for 0.3 per cent. of electricity generated in the UK. In the same period, of the renewables eligible under the Renewables Obligation wind energy contributed 0.39 per cent. of electricity sales by licensed suppliers in the UK.
	(b) For solar power the proportions were less than 0.01 per cent. on both bases.
	(c) Biomass accounted for 0.63 per cent. of electricity generated in the UK in 2003, while biomass eligible under the Renewables Obligation contributed 0.47 per cent. of electricity sales by licensed suppliers in the UK.

Telephone Sales

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department is taking to control (a) telephone cold calling and (b) unsolicited silent calls from commercial power diallers from (i)within and (ii) outside the UK.

Patricia Hewitt: The information is as follows:
	(a) My Department introduced the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) scheme, under the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 1999. The TPS scheme provides protection to subscribers from unsolicited telephone cold calls, which either originate from the UK or are made from abroad on behalf of UK companies, irrespective of whether they are dialled manually or made by commercial power diallers.
	(b) The Communications Act 2003 confers powers on the Office of Communications (Ofcom) to regulate forms of behaviour, which fall within the Act's definition of persistent misuse of an electronic communications network or service. Unsolicited silent calls made by commercial power diallers are an example of behaviour, which might represent persistent misuse. Ofcom has taken action against companies, which were found to have generated unacceptably high levels of unsolicited silent calls.

Working Time Directive

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  how many prosecutions of companies were brought in 2003–04 for breaches of the Working Time Directive;
	(2)  how many visits were made to companies in 2003–04 by officials from her Department or from agencies for which her Department is responsible to verify compliance with the Working Time Directive.

Gerry Sutcliffe: During the 12 months to 31 March 2004, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Infoline received over 5,000 inquiries on Working Time issues. All those requiring further action were followed up and HSE officers made 47 visits specifically to verify compliance with the Working Time Regulations. The HSE brought no prosecutions in this period, but one prosecution was concluded during that period—in which the company concerned was fined a total of £30,000 for four breaches of the Working Time Regulations. The other enforcement agencies; the Civil Aviation Authority, Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the Vehicle Operator Services Agency, made no visits and undertook no prosecutions for breaches of the Working Time Regulations in the period 2003–04.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Alcohol-Procurement Prosecutions

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been of adults found to have bought alcohol on behalf of persons under the age of 18 in (a) pubs, bars and clubs and (b) off-licences and other licensed retailers in each of the last 10 years .

Paul Goggins: The available information on persons proceeded against is contained in the first table.
	
		Number of persons proceeded against for certain liquor law offences(12), England and Wales 1994 to 2003
		
			Purchasing intoxicating liquor for consumption by person under 18 in a bar Licence holder knowingly delivering intoxicating liquor to a person under 18years for consumption off the premises 
		
		
			 1994 4 3 
			 1995 4 12 
			 1996 4 2 
			 1997 5 2 
			 1998 5 4 
			 1999 5 1 
			 2000 6 — 
			 2001 11 1 
			 2002 23 4 
			 2003 24 6 
		
	
	(12)These data are on a principal offence basis.
	The second table contains information on persons given penalty notices for disorder for offences relating to buying, selling etc. alcohol to persons under 18 in England and Wales.
	
		Penalty notices for disorder issued relating to buying, selling etc. alcohol to persons under 18 in England and Wales 2002 to 2004 (provisional figures)
		
			  2002–03(13) 2004 
		
		
			 Offence breakdown   
			 Selling alcohol to person under 18(14) — 79 
			 Purchasing alcohol in licensed premises for person under 18(14) — 19 
			 Delivering alcohol to person under 18(14) — 7 
			 Purchasing alcohol for consumption in a bar in licensed premises for person under 18 2 46 
			 Allowing consumption of alcohol by a person under 18 in bar in licensed premises(14) — 6 
			 Total PNDs issued relating to buying, selling etc. alcohol to persons under 18 2 157 
		
	
	(13)Piloted in Essex, Metropolitan police (part), North Wales (part) and West Midlands from August 2002 for 12 months.
	(14)New offence added to PND scheme from 1 November 2004.

Identity Cards/Passports

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has initiated into the use of biometrics for individual identification.

Des Browne: A study was commissioned from the National Physical Laboratory. The results of this study along with other research on identity cards has been published on the website www.identitycards.gov.uk
	The UK Passport Service is procuring a facial recognition system, which will provide a 'proof of concept' capability. This is expected to be operational by the end of 2005.
	The Police Information Technology Organisation has published a roadmap on the subject of personal identification within the police service which considers the technologies likely to be most appropriate. It looks at how mature these technologies are and what research and development work will be needed before suitable applications can be developed and deployed to support policing.

Identity Cards/Passports

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library the information available to his Department on the accuracy of (a) biometric tests and (b) biometric card readers; if he will list the biometric card readers his Department has assessed; what assessment he has made of the accuracy of (i) fingerprint tests, (ii) iris tests and (iii) face recognition tests; and what assessment he has made of the (A) problems and (B) benefits associated with each technology.

Des Browne: Work was commissioned on biometrics from NPL (National Physical Laboratory) on the feasibility of the use of biometrics in an identity card scheme. I have placed copies in the Library, and it is also available on the identity cards publications web page (http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/comrace/identitycards/publications.html). Related work is available on the Communications and Electronic Security Group website (http://www.cesg.gov.uk) in particular the Best Practice" standards for testing and reporting on biometric device performance and the Biometrics Testing Final Report", both of which deal with the testing of biometric devices.
	The Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO) has conducted large scale tests on the operational accuracy of fingerprint based identification systems for policing purposes, namely on the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS), and more recently for its successor, IDENT1. PITO has produced an 'Identification Roadmap' which identifies issues on biometric identification as they relate to its use in policing, both now and in the future. I have placed copies in the Library.
	A very basic benchmark exercise was carried out in 2000 on the Immigration and Asylum Fingerprint Identification system in order to assess the accuracy of the system. The only test carried out involved hard copies often-print fingerprint forms which were searched and stored on the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS).
	The Identity Cards Programme is actively investigating the performance of operational systems which enrol and match biometrics, including fingerprints, face and iris. Our conclusions are that the findings of the National Physical Laboratory reports are supported by the information gained from operational biometric systems.
	Some biometric technology has been used in the UK Passport Service biometric enrolment trial, the results of which will be published in due course, although it is important to note that this was not a systematic test of equipment, nor was it a technology trial. Rather than evaluate equipment, much of which may be superseded by the time are first issued we are working with other Departments and with expert advice to set the requirements for performance. These requirements, and the requirements for evaluation to demonstrate performance, we shall take to the market when the Identity Cards programme enters its procurement stage which is subject to approval of the Identity Cards Bill currently before Parliament.

Identity Cards/Passports

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evaluation he has conducted of the security of the proposed national identity register; and what weaknesses have been identified.

Des Browne: The ID Cards Scheme has not yet reached the Gateway 1 stage of the Office of Government Commerce classification of major programmes which is the stage at which a formal security evaluation is required. However it is likely that the evaluation will conclude that the scheme will be part of the country's Critical National Infrastructure (CNI). As such it will be subject to Government security accreditation in accordance with the Manual of Protective Security and the relevant international standard (ISO/IEC 17799). A pan government security accreditor has been appointed from the Central Sponsor for Information Assurance (CSIA) and a team of specialist security consultants appointed to manage the accreditation and end to end resilience and security of the scheme.
	A formal Threat Assessment has been commissioned and input received from the National Infrastructure Co-ordination Centre (NISCC) and the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS). These will form a key part of the security evaluation. The Communications Electronic Security Group (CESG) which is part of GCHQ and the National Technical Information Assurance Authority are fully engaged in the project. Finally both an Accreditation Panel and a Security Working Group, involving all security stakeholders, are already in place and meetings held on a regular basis.

Identity Cards Bill

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his statement of 20 December 2004, Official Report, column 1950, on the Identity Cards Bill, how he intends that the Bill, if enacted, should apply to (a) Irish citizens commuting into the United Kingdom for employment or recreation and (b) Irish citizens who are resident within the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: holding answer 4 February 2005
	ID cards will be issued to people resident in the United Kingdom, not to those who reside elsewhere and visit the UK, whether on a regular basis or not. The status of Irish citizens in the UK will not change should the Identity Cards Bill be enacted. They will be treated in accordance with the British Nationality Act 1948 and the Ireland Act 1949 and the provisions of the Good Friday Agreement. They may also, if they so wish, choose to be regarded as EU nationals.

Immigration

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for leave to remain were processed after (a) 20 days, (b) 40 days, (c) 60 days, (d) 80 days, (e) 100 days and (f) more than 100 days; and what percentage of the total number of applications each of these represented in each year since 1997;

Charles Clarke: The information requested is set out in the table.
	
		Leave to remain applications processed during 2002–04
		
			  Total applications processed 20 days or less 21–40 days 41–60 days 61–80 days 80–100 days 101 plus days 
		
		
			 2002
			 Number 288,300 114,115 50,975 34,900 20,895 22,450 44,965 
			 Percentage of total — 40 18 12 7 8 16 
			 
			 2003
			 Number 387,280 214,155 99,070 33,010 12,585 7,535 20,930 
			 Percentage of total — 55 26 9 3 2 5 
			 
			 2004
			 Number 281,305 162,495 71,810 20,520 11,780 7,485 7,215 
			 Percentage of total — 58 26 7 4 3 3 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Comparable data is not available prior to 2002 due to changes in data recording between old and existing databases.
	2.The information for 2004 is for the period between 1 January 2004 and 6 December 2004.
	3.The processing time is taken from the date that the application was received until the dispatch date.
	4.These figures are based on unvalidated information drawn from internal management systems, and there may be data quality variations.
	5.Figures have been rounded to the nearest five.

Judicial System

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Department is taking to ensure all citizens have equal access to justice.

Paul Goggins: The Home Office is committed to ensuring that all citizens have equal access to justice. We recognise that public confidence in the Criminal Justice System is crucial to the delivery of fair and equitable justice. Ensuring that members of the public have confidence in the CJS will lead to more frequent reporting of crime and the greater likelihood of justice being done.
	We are developing the infrastructure to ensure the effective delivery of new Public Sector Agreement (PSA) targets. The new PSA was developed to reflect the Criminal Justice System (CJS) vision for 2008 which aims to ensure that the public has confidence that the CJS is effective and serves all communities fairly.
	The Home Office is working with Local Criminal Justice Boards to improve levels of community engagement, meet communities' needs and priorities and encourage the participation of local people in the delivery of justice. We are working to increase public understanding and awareness of the CJS using a variety of media including the CJS Online Website and virtual walkthroughs for victims, witnesses, jurors and defendants to demystify the experience in advance.
	The Home Office has a strong commitment to ensure that those who have been the victim of a crime or were a witness to a crime receive the appropriate levels of care and support.

Offender Management

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will carry out a risk assessment of (a) possible overlap of the National Offender Management Service with other Home Office programmes and (b) how such an overlap might affect programme effectiveness.

Paul Goggins: A comprehensive risk strategy for the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) is in place. This includes an assessment of the risk of overlap with other Home Office programmes.

Offender Management

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of (a) the level of risk that his Department will fail to deliver the National Offender Management Service change programme and (b) the consequences of such failure.

Paul Goggins: An assessment of risk has been carried out for the National Offender Management Service (NOMS). Contingency planning is in hand to manage this risk.

Offender Management

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the implications for cost-effectiveness of the purchaser or provider model proposed for the Probation Service in delivering the proposed National Offender Management Service reforms.

Paul Goggins: The rationale for a purchaser provider split is contained in Lord Carter's review of correctional services. This split will enable the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) to drive up the quality of work with offenders. Individual offender managers will be the users of services commissioned by the National Offender Manager (NOM) or Regional Offender Managers (ROMs), and accountable for the effective implementation of sentence plans.

Offender Management

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the business case for the introduction of contestability and market testing into the National Offender Management Service is established in (a) Patrick Carter's independent report Managing Offenders—Reducing Crime and (b) the Government's response Reducing Crime—Changing Lives.

Paul Goggins: Yes. Lord Carter's report makes the case for contestability as one of its key recommendations and this recommendation was accepted in the Government's response published on 6 January 2004.

Offender Management

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the provisions on the organisation of offender management set out in paragraphs 3.1 to 3.4 (page 35) of National Offender Management Service—Next Steps (published 27 October 2004) remain part of the plan for the Service; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: The paragraphs referred to remain relevant to the work of the National Offender Management Service.

Offender Management

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the introduction of the National Offender Management Service on the input of the voluntary sector to the criminal justice system.

Paul Goggins: The creation of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) offers a unique opportunity to sustain and expand existing voluntary sector work with offenders, while opening up the prospect of new areas for partnership and engagement with the voluntary and community sector. A new Voluntary Sector Unit has been established to provide a national lead and, will work closely with the recently appointed Regional Offender Managers, assisting them in being able to reach, support and work effectively with voluntary groups in their regions. The work of the Unit will be overseen by an independently chaired Advisory Group drawn from the voluntary sector, prisons and probation. A voluntary sector representative has been appointed to the NOMS Board, voluntary groups are included in the working group on Offender Management and proposals are being developed for a voluntary sector stakeholder group to help develop the mixed economy of provision for NOMS.
	NOMS published a draft strategy The Role of the Voluntary and Community Sector in the National Offender Management Service" on 31 January 2005. This has been sent to voluntary and community groups and staff working with them in prisons and probation for consultation. The consultation period will run to 25April 2005 and a revised strategy will be produced in the summer.
	NOMS commissioned a study in Yorkshire and Humberside by Sheffield Hallam University entitled Enhancing the Role of the Voluntary Sector" The study examines the extent and nature of current voluntary sector involvement with correctional services, identifies good practice in working relationships, assesses the potential for extending involvement, identifies barriers and capacity building needs and suggests ways to help to overcome these.
	Copies of these reports have been widely circulated and are also available on the Home Office and Prison Service websites.
	A major conference and exhibition was held on 22 November 2004, to highlight the contribution made by voluntary and community groups to support the delivery of services to prisoners, offenders and their families. The event was attended by over 500 delegates.
	Funding for 2005 and 2006 has been secured from the Home Office Active Communities Directorate's Change Up programme to support the development of the voluntary sector in this area. This includes training, advice and support to help the voluntary sector prepare for contestability. We will also encourage projects where large organisations work with smaller, local groups; and a project to address the needs of under-represented groups, particularly those from the black and minority ethnic sector.
	A Strategic Partnership Project has been established, led by Clinks, the organisation that supports voluntary and community groups working with offenders and their families. This has provided NOMS with a network of organisations and a quick and easy route to consultation. NOMS has been able to fund a Partnership Manager to support and service this work.

Offender Management

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether offenders assessed as requiring specific offender behaviour programmes will be placed by regional offender managers in establishments that do not offer the specific programme.

Paul Goggins: Offender managers will be responsible for the delivery of sentence plans for the whole of the offender's sentence. It is expected that in the majority of cases individuals will be placed in establishments which can meet their needs during the custodial part of the sentence. It is possible that a single establishment will not be able to meet all the needs identified for an individual, particularly for longer custodial sentences, and in these cases the sentence plan could involve the identification of other establishments which met specific needs.

Offender Management

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of whether the purchaser/provider split for the Probation Service in England and Wales will create a conflict of interest.

Paul Goggins: NOMS is committed to delivering the purchaser/provider split as a means of driving up the quality of work with offenders and will be looking to develop the best possible model for doing so. There will be a clear separation between purchasing and providing roles in order to avoid a conflict of interest.

Offender Management

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the role will be of the 10 regional offender managers as employers for offender management of the Probation Service.

Paul Goggins: Under the existing board structure of the Probation Service, offender managers will remain employed by boards and therefore line managed by chief officers. ROMs will not formally employ offender managers but arrangements are being agreed with boards and chief officers which will allow ROMs to direct the work of offender management through chief officers.

Student Visas

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the cost of processing visa applications from overseas students coming to study at universities in the UK.

Des Browne: On 1 August 2003 the Home Office introduced charges for leave to remain applications, including those from international students. Fees were calculated to recover the full administrative costs (including staffing and overhead costs) of processing applications to the point of conveying a decision.
	We have recently consulted stakeholders on proposals to extend the principle of cost recovery charging, to include the costs of providing an appeal function and the costs of delivering enforcement activity. The consultation closed on 8 December 2004. The outcome of the consultation and the final fee levels have been announced on 7 February 2005.
	The fee ranges have been calculated using the full cost recovery formula approved by HM Treasury. A full explanation of how the costs are calculated will be laid before Parliament when the Fees Regulations are amended.

Tsunami (Passports)

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what charges he is imposing on survivors of the recent tsunami to replace passports lost in the disaster.

Des Browne: holding answer 17 January 2005
	In response to recent events the United Kingdom Passport Service (UKPS) has agreed to waive the fee for the replacement of those passports of UK nationals that were lost as a result of the recent tsunami in South East Asia.
	It was the Passport Service's view that because of the magnitude of the disaster, and the circumstances in which British nationals lost their passports, it was entirely appropriate, given the national response, for those who lost their passports as a result of the disaster to have them replaced free of charge.

Correspondence

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when UK Visas will reply to the letter dated 6 January from the hon. Member for Edinburgh West with regard to Hakim Sadi.

Des Browne: The hon. Member's letter of 6 January was referred by UK Visas to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) on 27 January. IND wrote to the hon. Member on 2 February.

Wheel Clamping

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  whether all wheel clamping firms are now licensed under the Private Security Industry Act 2001;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the work of the Security Industry Association regarding wheel clampers.

Hazel Blears: From 28 February 2005 it will be illegal for wheel-clampers (also know as vehicle immobilisers) to work on private land without a Security Industry Authority (SIA) licence. The SIA started to receive application forms from 30 November 2004 and the total number of applications requested to date is 807.
	The Security Industry Authority was set up in March 2003 under the Private Security Industry Act 2001 to regulate the private security sector. Vehicle Immobilisers licensing will only apply to the immobilisation of vehicles parked on private ground where a fee is charged for release. Secondary legislation is currently before Parliament to include the activities of towing away and blocking in as licensable activities.
	VIs will need to hold an SIA licence which will involve undertaking and passing a five-day training course, an identity check and a criminal records check. Licensing will ensure that only well-trained and reliable people work in positions of trust. There will also be a public register of VI licence holders.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Community Courts

Liam Byrne: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will list community courts which have been established in England.

Christopher Leslie: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 31 January 2005, Official Report, 723W.

Consultants

David Laws: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the total expenditure by his Department on all external consultants was in (a) 1996–97 and (b) 2003–04; and what the estimated cost of employing external consultants will be in (i) 2004–05, (ii) 2005–06, (iii)2006–07 and (iv) 2007–08.

David Lammy: My Department's net expenditure with consultants in the years requested was as follows:
	1996–97: £1,088,464
	2003–04: £9,016,488
	Information on future expenditure with consultants is not available centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The level of expenditure with external consultants reflects a wide-ranging and fast paced programme of change, designed to modernise and increase efficiency, provide better customer service, and value for money.
	Delivering such a programme has necessitated the use of external expertise to supplement internal resources.

Departmental Contracts

Mike Hancock: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many contracts in his Department have been granted to (a) EDS, (b) Fujitsu and (c) jointly in each of the last two years; whether they were open to competition; for what they were granted; for how much, and over what period of time; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: My Department has granted no contracts to (a) EDS, (b) Fujitsu and (c) jointly in each of the last two years. We do however have contracts with these suppliers which pre-date the period specified. In each case the Department awarded contracts in open competition according to the EU Procurement Regulations, based upon best value for money.

Departmental Policies

Martyn Jones: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Clwyd South constituency, the effects on Clwyd South of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Christopher Leslie: The Department for Constitutional Affairs is the Government Department responsible for upholding justice, rights and democracy. The Department's aim is to provide for effective and accessible justice for all, to ensure the rights and responsibilities pf the citizen, and to modernize the law and constitution.
	Currently, the Department has six strategy objectives, which cover the delivery of justice, civil and administrative law, protecting the vulnerable, modernising the constitution, increasing consumer choice and working in partnership with the independent judiciary. The Department also has seven Public Service Agreement targets to help deliver its strategic objectives.
	Examples of the activity in 2004 to deliver these objectives include work with partners to make sure criminal trials are more efficient with the numbers of ineffective Crown Court trials falling from 24 per cent. in 2002–03 to 16 per cent. in September 2004. The rate has reduced from 31 per cent. to 25 per cent. for the same period in the magistrates courts. The Department has also been involved in work to help people resolve their disputes in the most effective way, including pilots to test the effectiveness of court-based mediation. During 2004 there was a reduction from almost 49 per cent. to 41 per cent. in those cases that had eventually to be resolved by a hearing. Another area where pilots were used successfully was for all postal voting in four regions of England at the combined European and local elections in June 2004. Voter turnout doubled in the pilot regions compared with 1999.
	The range of the Department's policies and actions is wide and the statistical information relating to all of that activity is not collected on a constituency basis. Consequently, the information requested in the question cannot be provided in the form requested except at a disproportionate cost. However, statistical information about the Department's activities can be found at: http://www.dca.gov.uk/statistics/statfr.htm as well as at www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk.
	An example of the information available on those sites is data on persistent young offenders. The average number of days from arrest to sentence for persistent young offenders sentenced between August and October 2004 was 64 days in the North Wales criminal justice area, which covers the constituency of Clwyd South. This compares with 124 days in the North Wales criminal justice area in the 1997 calendar year.

Departmental Policies

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Kingston upon Hull North constituency, the effects on Kingston upon Hull North of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Christopher Leslie: The Department for Constitutional Affairs is the Government Department responsible for upholding justice, rights and democracy. The Department's aim is to provide for effective and accessible justice for all, to ensure the rights and responsibilities of the citizen, and to modernise the law and constitution.
	Currently, the Department has six strategic objectives, which cover the delivery of justice, civil and administrative law, protecting the vulnerable, modernising the constitution, increasing consumer choice and working in partnership with the independent judiciary. The Department also has seven Public Service Agreement targets to help deliver its strategic objectives.
	The range of the Department's policies and actions is wide and the statistical information relating to that activity is not collected on a constituency basis. Consequently, the information requested in the question cannot be provided except at a disproportionate cost. Statistical information about the Department's activities can be found at: http://www.dca.gov.uk/statistics/statfr.htm as well as at www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk.
	An example of the information available on those sites is data on persistent young offenders. The average number of days from arrest to sentence for persistent young offenders sentenced between August and October 2004 was 56 days in the Humberside criminal justice area, which covers the constituency of Kingston upon Hull North. This compares with 129 days in the Humberside criminal justice area in the 1997 calendar year.

Departmental Policies

Jackie Lawrence: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Preseli Pembrokeshire constituency, the effects on Preseli Pembrokeshire of his Department's policies and actions since it was established.

Christopher Leslie: The Department for Constitutional Affairs is the Government Department responsible for upholding justice, rights and democracy. The Department's aim is to provide for effective and accessible justice for all, to ensure the rights and responsibilities of the citizen, and to modernise the law and constitution.
	Currently, the Department has six strategic objectives, which cover the delivery of justice, civil and administrative law, protecting the vulnerable, modernising the constitution, increasing consumer choice and working in partnership with the independent judiciary. The Department also has seven Public Service Agreement targets to help deliver its strategic objectives.
	Examples of the activity in 2004 to deliver these objectives include work with partners to make sure criminal trials are more efficient with the numbers of ineffective Crown Court trials falling from 24 per cent. in 2002–03 to 16 per cent. in September 2004. The rate has reduced from 31 per cent. to 25 per cent. for the same period in the magistrates' courts. The Department has also been involved in work to help people resolve their disputes in the most effective way, including pilots to test the effectiveness of court-based mediation. During 2004 there was a reduction from almost 49 per cent. to 41 per cent. in those cases that had eventually to be resolved by a hearing. Another area where pilots were used successfully was for all postal voting in four regions of England at the combined European and local elections in June 2004. Voter turnout doubled in the pilot regions compared with 1999.
	The range of the Department's policies and actions is wide and the statistical information relating to that activity is not collected on a constituency basis. Consequently, the information requested in the question cannot be provided except at a disproportionate cost. Statistical information about the Department's activities can be found at: http://www.dca.gov.uk/statistics/statfr.htm as well as at www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk.
	An example of the information available on those sites is data on persistent young offenders. The average number of days from arrest to sentence for persistent young offenders sentenced between August and October 2004 was 33 days in the Dyfed-Powys criminal justice area, which covers the constituency of Preseli Pembrokeshire. This compares with 124 days in the Dyfed-Powys criminal justice area in the 1997 calendar year.

EU Committee on the Protection of Individuals

Angus Robertson: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Committee on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the Group on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: During the period of the presidencies identified in the questions, the Committee established under Article 31 of the Directive 95/46/EC met 10 times, in Brussels, when the relevant departmental policy official of the UK Government was present. During thesame period, the working party established under Article 29 of the Directive 95/46/EC met 13 times, in Brussels, when either the UK Information Commissioner or a representative of the Commissioner's Office was present.

European Constitution (Referendum)

Graham Brady: To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what market research, opinion polling and focus group research the Government undertook in relation to the formulation of the question providing for a referendum on the treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe as set out in the European Union Bill; what its cost was; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: There has been no opinion polling, market research or focus group research on the question providing for a referendum on the Treaty establishing a Constitution for the European Union. The question was drafted bearing in mind the Electoral Commission's guidelines which are designed to ensure a question is intelligible. The Electoral Commission's views on the question in Lord Blackwell's Private Member's Bill of July 2004 were also taken into account.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Polling and Research

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission 
	(1)  pursuant to his answer of 15 December 2004, Official Report, column 1140W, on polling and research, if he will place copies of the research in the Library;
	(2)  pursuant to his answer of 15 December 2004, Official Report, column 1140W, on regional government, if he will place in the Library copies of research, focus group and opinion poll material held by the Electoral Commission relating to the referendum on an elected regional assembly in the north east.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission has informed me that all the research exercises referred to in my earlier answer should be completed by mid-March.
	These will inform the Commission's statutory report on the north east referendum, expected to be published by the autumn. The Commission intends to place details of the supporting research in the Library of the House when the report is published.

Referendums

Oliver Heald: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what (a) advice and (b) guidance the Electoral Commission has issued relating to holding a (i) nationwide referendum, (ii) mayoral referendum and (iii) local issues referendum under the Local Government Act 2003 at the same time as a (A) local election, (B) general election and (C) devolved Parliament or regional assembly election; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Viggers: holding answer 1 February 2005
	Under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 the Electoral Commission has a number of responsibilities relating to UK-wide referendums, referendums held in one or more of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and regional referendums in England. It does not have statutory responsibilities in relation to mayoral referendums or local issues referendums under the Local Government Act 2003.
	I am informed that the Electoral Commission has issued no advice or guidance in respect of the combinations of elections and referendums listed in the question.
	The Commission has, however, on two occasions commented on suggestions for combining elections and referendums. In July 2002 the Electoral Commission issued a statement regarding the possibility of elections to the Scottish Parliament and the National Assembly for Wales, and English local government elections, being combined with a referendum on the adoption of the single currency. In February 2004, it responded to the ODPM's consultation on combining regional and local referendums and on local referendum rules.
	On both occasions, the Commission expressed concerns about the possibility of combination, reflecting its view that on balance it is disadvantageous for elections to be combined with referendums. I understand that the reasons it advanced included concern that cross-party campaigning at the referendum could be confusing for the electorate.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Civil Protection

Andrew George: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues in the Cabinet Office in respect of the funding requirements of (a) local authorities and (b) the Council of the Isles of Scilly to meet their obligations and duties under the (i) Civil Contingencies Act 2004 and (ii) other civil protection regulations.

Nick Raynsford: The Government have more than doubled their contribution to the cost of local authorities' civil protection activities in England to £38,437 million per year in 2005–06—a 121 per cent. increase. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Cabinet Office have regular discussions on a range of issues, including the distribution of civil protection funding for local authorities. As a result of these discussions, the civil protection requirements of all local authorities in England have been considered and local authorities were notified in December 2004 of their funding allocation for 2005–06.

Communities Plan

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much central Government expenditure on the Communities Plan is to be allocated to each programme which is part of the plan.

Keith Hill: The following table provides a breakdown of spending on programmes included in the Communities Plan.
	
		£ million
		
			 Programme 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 
		
		
			 Regional Housing Pot and predecessor  programmes 2,686 2,451 2,504 
			 Arms Length Housing Management  Organisations (ALMOs) 322 (15)752 961 
			 Disabled Facilities Grant 112 114 104 
			 Homelessness/B and B 89 122 81 
			 Other housing programmes 618 440 455 
			 Housing Market Renewal Fund 70 151 284 
			 Thames Gateway 40 168 194 
			 Growth Areas 21 62 65 
			 Community Infrastructure Fund 0 0 0 
			 Local Environment / liveability (inc. skills) 39 76 78 
			 Regional Development Agencies 1,524 1,456 1,487 
			 European Regional Development Fund 273 292 185 
			 English Partnerships 134 586 386 
			 Other Urban Programmes 18 29 19 
			 Planning (including Planning Delivery Grant) 56 143 183 
			 Neighbourhood Renewal Fund 400 450 525 
			 New Deal for Communities 247 271 273 
			 New Ventures Fund 106 96 82 
			 Total 6,754 7,658 7,865 
		
	
	
		£ million
		
			 Programme 2006–07 2007–08 Total 
		
		
			 Regional Housing Pot and predecessor  programmes 2,632 2,920 13,193 
			 Arms Length Housing Management  Organisations (ALMOs) 891 887 3,813 
			 Disabled Facilities Grant 121 121 572 
			 Homelessness/B and B 86 94 471 
			 Other housing programmes 471 471 2,455 
			 Housing Market Renewal Fund 336 451 1,292 
			 Thames Gateway 203 206 811 
			 Growth Areas 89 188 426 
			 Community Infrastructure Fund 50 150 200 
			 Local Environment / liveability (inc. skills) 80 90 364 
			 Regional Development Agencies 1,570 1,598 7,635 
			 European Regional Development Fund 254 254 1,259 
			 English Partnerships 358 319 1,783 
			 Other Urban Programmes 19 44 128 
			 Planning (including Planning Delivery Grant) 154 144 678 
			 Neighbourhood Renewal Fund 525 525 2,425 
			 New Deal for Communities 277 246 1,313 
			 New Ventures Fund 94 94 471 
			 Total 8,209 8,802 39,289 
		
	
	(15)This figure includes £180 million designated for gap funding for stock transfers during the SR04 period.
	Notes:
	1.All figures are rounded to the nearest £ million. Totals may not add up, due to rounding.
	2.All figures are planned expenditure, except for 2003–04 where out-turn figures are shown.
	3.Figures for EP from 2004–05 onwards include an adjustment due to changes to the accounting treatment acquisitions. Overall these accounting changes result in an increase of approximately £850 million in the Departmental Expenditure Limit over this period.

Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average band D council tax has been in each county council area in each year since 1997–98.

Nick Raynsford: The information requested is in the table.
	
		Area average band D council tax -- £
		
			 County 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Bedfordshire 764 808 877 929 981 1,072 1,194 1,286 
			 Buckinghamshire 639 703 766 813 868 947 1,098 1,173 
			 Cambridgeshire 590 645 723 784 842 948 1,045 1,131 
			 Cheshire 710 827 865 919 975 1,031 1,134 1,193 
			 Cornwall(16) 647 706 748 820 864 941 1,050 1,127 
			 Cumbria 759 826 868 919 964 1,042 1,175 1,238 
			 Derbyshire 734 809 873 933 989 1,082 1,178 1,232 
			 Devon 629 719 776 822 877 965 1,142 1,211 
			 Dorset 705 768 829 876 930 1,024 1,186 1,260 
			 Durham 779 859 896 937 979 1,113 1,211 1,288 
			 East Sussex 691 748 804 868 945 1,007 1,207 1,279 
			 Essex 645 737 786 845 909 995 1,150 1,217 
			 Gloucestershire 642 710 771 843 900 987 1,142 1,207 
			 Hampshire 659 719 779 819 865 944 1,083 1,148 
			 Hertfordshire 628 702 763 808 857 941 1,104 1,171 
			 Kent 631 708 765 826 880 970 1,095 1,166 
			 Lancashire 763 848 914 963 1,003 1,083 1,190 1,252 
			 Leicestershire 704 761 803 859 914 1,008 1,099 1,184 
			 Lincolnshire 658 739 787 831 879 961 1,053 1,117 
			 Norfolk 620 707 779 831 889 983 1,131 1,207 
			 North Yorkshire 626 692 754 798 863 965 1,127 1,203 
			 Northamptonshire 659 708 765 816 860 978 1,071 1,140 
			 Northumberland 736 827 898 954 1,010 1,079 1,204 1,259 
			 Nottinghamshire 769 842 925 978 1,036 1,131 1,249 1,323 
			 Oxfordshire 635 696 771 834 895 978 1,128 1,204 
			 Shropshire 666 724 791 837 890 998 1,148 1,221 
			 Somerset 658 719 770 823 877 983 1,110 1,180 
			 Staffordshire 632 701 760 804 880 943 1,084 1,161 
			 Suffolk 651 706 761 816 873 982 1,164 1,216 
			 Surrey 627 706 764 807 848 946 1,128 1,187 
			 Warwickshire 713 765 823 872 923 1,036 1,133 1,206 
			 West Sussex 652 713 759 802 852 939 1,112 1,179 
			 Wiltshire 650 731 781 841 908 997 1,108 1,182 
			 Worcestershire 616 674 735 806 882 974 1,090 1,171 
		
	
	(16)Including the Isles of Scilly

Fire Service

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister who is consulted on proposals for changing practices at fire stations in Lancashire.

Nick Raynsford: Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) have advised that the following groups were consulted:
	All LFRS stations and departments
	Audit Commission
	British Approvals for Fire Equipment
	District Council leaders and CEO's
	Unitary Authority leaders and CEO's
	British Retail Consortium
	Combined Fire Authority Members
	Chief Fire Officers (NW Region)
	Chamber of Commerce/Business Link
	District Partnership Officers
	Environment Agency
	Fire Certificate holders
	Fire Prevention association
	Health and Safety Executive
	Health Authority/Acute Care Trusts/PCX's
	Local Government Association
	MP's and North West MEP's
	NW Regional Management Board
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
	Other Emergency Services
	Other Miscellaneous
	Parish Councils
	Social Services
	Universities
	Unions (ACTS, FBU, UNISON)
	Victims of fire
	Summary draft Year 2 Action Plan leaflets were distributed as follows:
	Libraries
	Doctors surgeries and Health Centres
	It is also understood from LFRS that 1,014 copies of the draft Year 2 Integrated Risk Management Planning (IRMP) Action Plan were distributed, 4,790 information leaflets were distributed to public libraries, town halls and information centres etc. throughout Lancashire. In addition, the Combined Fire Authority website had been utilised for consultation purposes; presentations had been given to LFRS Area Commanders and Departmental Heads who in turn had disseminated the information to staff; copies of the Plan had been sent to 15 Members of Parliament, the nine NW Members of the European Parliament, all district council leaders and chief executive officers and Lancashire county council; the draft Year 2 IRMP Action Plan was considered at Crime and Disorder Partnership and Local Strategic Partnership meetings and letters outlining the purpose and reason behind IRMP and copies of the draft Year 2 Action Plan were also sent to 24 Fire Certificate holders, six victims of fire, 163 parish councils, 26 NHS Trusts and numerous other consultees.
	Opinion Research Services (ORS) were commissioned to carry out a public consultation programme with Lancashire residents. In addition, two additional Scrutiny Panels were organised by LFRS. These involved minority groups and a panel made up of Prince's Trust Team Members.

Fire Service

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the Department's policy is on fire prevention.

Nick Raynsford: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister aims to prevent fire through regulation to ensure that places of work, and new and substantially altered buildings, are made as safe as possible in relation to the assessed risks of fire; through national and local campaigns to raise awareness of the risks of fire and to encourage fire safe behaviour; and through a modernised Fire and Rescue Service with fire prevention at the centre of its work.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister provides additional funding to Fire and Rescue Authorities for work on fire prevention through the Community Fire Safety Innovation Fund, the Arson Control Forum Implementation Fund and as part of the new Home Fire Risk Check Initiative.

Fire Service

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what decision the South West Regional Management Board took at its recent meeting with regard to the outline business concern on south west regional control centres for the fire service.

Nick Raynsford: The South West Regional Management Board (RMB) was asked to comment on the principles and arguments underlying the outline business case for the FiReControl project. Until the procurement processes are complete the figures in the business case are indicative only and cannot be used as the basis for any decisions. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will be carefully considering the comments of all the RMBs, including that in the south west, in order to ensure the robustness of the business case as it develops, and will issue a response in due course.

Fire Service

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister howmany times the Fire Service has been called out on false calls in (a) the North West, (b) Lancashire and (c) Chorley in each of the last five years.

Nick Raynsford: The information requested for Lancashire and the North West is tabled 2003 is the most recent year for which information is available.
	
		False alarms attended by Fire & Rescue Services
		
			  1999 2000 2001 2002(18) 2003(18) 
		
		
			 Lancashire 10,813 10,728 11,137 11,171 11,692 
			 North West(17) 58,161 56,293 57,361 54,366 56,566 
		
	
	(17)The 'North West' refers to the area covered by the following Fire & Rescue Services: Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside.
	(18)Data include estimates for false alarms not recorded during periods of national industrial action in 2002 & 2003. Data for 2003 are provisional.
	No information is available centrally on fires and false alarms in Chorley. Information from the Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service website (www.lancsfire.govuk/IRMP/Districts/Chorley%20District%20Profile.pdf) indicates there were 501 falsealarms attended in 2000–01 in Chorley; 532 in 2001–02; and 534 in 2002–03.

Fire Service

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has for the future of the fire service control room in Eastbourne.

Nick Raynsford: Fire and Rescue control room services for East Sussex will be operated through the South East Regional Control Centre after it becomes operational, expected at the end of 2007. The order of transfer of fire and rescue services in the South East Region to the regional control centre, and hence the exact timing of the transfer for East Sussex, will depend on the location of the South East Regional Control Centre, which is not yet known. Location announcements are expected in Spring 2005. The use to which the accommodation for the existing control room is put after transfer will be a matter for East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service.

Fire Service

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the implications for tackling domestic fires if regional control centres are established; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: The technology to be used in the regional control centres for the Fire and Rescue Service will automatically locate callers from the telephone network, detect the appliance with the appropriate skills and equipment which can be most quickly mobilised to the incident and direct it along the most effective route to the incident. This will help the fire and rescue service to reach all incidents, including domestic fires, quicker and so save more lives.

Fire Service

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many fires there have been in Romford in the last five years.

Nick Raynsford: The information requested is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. Fire statistics are compiled by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for each Fire and Rescue Authority. In this case, Romford's fires are reported as part of the London total.
	The London Safety Plan 1 (figures prepared by the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority) lists the number of fires in the London borough of Havering on an annual average based on a five-year period (1999–00 to 2003–04) as 1,585.
	1 http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/news/media/bp0506_ Havering.pdf

Flooding

Llew Smith: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what environmental impact assessment was carried out in connection with his five year plan on sustainable communities; and what evaluation was made of increased threats posed by flooding in earmarking sites to develop these new communities.

Keith Hill: All additional housing referred to in Homes for All will be delivered through the planning system, and will therefore be subject to both Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in line with the SEA Directive and Environmental Impact Assessment. In addition, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has awarded a major research contract as part of our response to the Barker review to consider the economic, social, environmental and fiscal implications of additional housebuilding. The contract runs to June 2005, and has been awarded to a consortium led by Entec UK Ltd.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is, in accordance with PPG25 on flood risk, encouraging planning authorities to undertake Strategic Flood Risk Assessments to support development planning in the growth areas. New growth areas will be identified to make best use of existing and committed infrastructure, including flood defences required to protect existing historic settlements.

Housing

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many homes have been constructed in Romford, Essex in each of the last five years.

Keith Hill: Figures for Romford are not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The annual numbers of new build completions reported for the London borough of Havering since 1999–2000 are tabled as follows:
	
		
			  Completions 
		
		
			 1999–2000 284 
			 2000–01 274 
			 2001–02 307 
			 2002–03 263 
			 2003–04 289

Housing

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many new homes have been built in rural areas in each year since 1997.

Keith Hill: The annual numbers of new-build completions since 1997–98 for English local authorities defined as rural by the Countryside Agency are in the following table.
	
		
			  Completions 
		
		
			 1997–98 55,400 
			 1998–99 49,900 
			 1999–2000 53,300 
			 2000–01 48,700 
			 2001–02 47,500 
			 2002–03 49,100 
			 2003–04 46,800 
		
	
	The complete list of the local authorities classified as rural is published in the Planning Statistics section of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website (under Urban and Rural Area definitions; Table Bl) http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_control/documents/contentservertemplate/odpm_index.hcst?n =3331&l=2.

Housing

Tim Loughton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many new houses have been built in each local authority area in Sussex in each of the last five years; and what percentage that represents of the new-build targets set by his Department.

Keith Hill: The annual numbers of new build completions reported for each of authorities in East and West Sussex since 1999–2000 are in the following table. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not set new-build targets. Information on current planned housing provision is available in the county structure plans of West Sussex and East Sussex.
	
		Numbers of new-build completions
		
			  1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Adur 119 67 30 22 52 
			 Arun 387 293 484 587 394 
			 Brighton and Hove 539 330 572 117 150 
			 Chichester 224 307 337 453 371 
			 Crawley 175 63 39 67 74 
			 Eastbourne 328 397 498 437 572 
			 Hastings 183 339 218 284 91 
			 Horsham 621 492 356 671 514 
			 Lewes 81 111 152 148 139 
			 Mid-Sussex 172 170 128 182 486 
			 Rother 159 146 335 201 172 
			 Wealden 511 279 191 314 173 
			 Worthing 88 195 62 218 119 
		
	
	Source:
	Returns (P2) to ODPM on building control completions.

Housing

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much money Sefton received in 2004–05 for repair and refurbishment of council homes; and how much is proposed for 2005–06.

Keith Hill: The following table shows Sefton's maintenance and major repairs allowances per dwelling within Housing Revenue Account subsidy for 2004–05 and 2005–06. The final volume of these allowances will depend on changes in the size of Sefton's stock.
	
		Sefton: allowances per dwelling within HRA subsidy
		
			  2004–05 2005–06 
		
		
			 Maintenance allowance 730.72 837.32 
			 Major repairs allowance 563.21 581.12

Housing

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people owned their own homes in Crosby in each year since 1997.

Keith Hill: Results from the last Census show that in 2001 there were 24,017 households in the parliamentary constituency of Crosby who were owner occupiers—out of a total of 29,484 households.
	Of these owner-occupiers 11,089 owned their home outright; 12,825 were buying with a mortgage; and 103 were in shared ownership schemes.
	Annual figures from 1997 are not available.

Housing

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the level of Sefton's housing debt was for each year since 1997.

Keith Hill: The estimated share of Sefton's debt attributed to housing is tabled as follows. The estimate is used for the calculation of the Council's Housing Revenue Account Subsidy:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2005–06 77,462,965 
			 2004–05 75,382,599 
			 2003–04 72,673,989 
			 2002–03 73,788,424 
			 2001–02 75,262,035 
			 2000–01 74,963,929 
			 1999–2000 73,288,544 
			 1998–99 73,865,594 
			 1997–98 74,616,833

Housing

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which recommendations of the Barker review of housing supply the Government intend to implement; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Hill: The Government's initial response to Kate Barker's report was provided by my right hon. Friends the Chancellor and the Deputy Prime Minister alongside the budget on 17 March 2004. We said then that we intend to bring forward a package of measures to address the recommendations of the Barker review by the end of 2005.
	Kate Barker's proposals build on the approach adopted in the Communities Plan, launched by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister in February 2003. Her analysis has reinforced our case and strategy for more growth. In particular, the Government have accepted Kate Barker's central recommendation that there should be a step change in housing supply and intends to set a national market affordability goal, by the end of 2005, as part of the package of measures in response to the Barker Review.
	In advance of the wider package, and in response to one of Kate Barker's recommendations, the Government recently consulted on proposals to strengthen regional integration by bringing together regional planning bodies and regional housing boards and to provide the merged bodies with independent advice. Following that consultation, we will be announcing decisions shortly.
	In the 2004 Spending Review, we made a start on infrastructure investment in creating a Community Infrastructure Fund, as recommended by Kate Barker. An extra £50 million in 2006–07 and £150 million in 2007–08 will be available to finance transport projects needed to sustain housing growth. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor also allocated funds which, with additional Private Finance Initiative (PFI) funding, aims to provide an extra 10,000 new homes for social let annually, together with resources that will help deliver the 200,000 new homes identified in the Sustainable Communities Plan in Thames Gateway and the other growth areas by 2016 and go further by responding to new proposals for growth.

Licensing Hours

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what requirements there are on local councillors to declare an interest when considering applications for the extension of licensing hours.

Nick Raynsford: Under the terms of the Local Authorities (Model Code of Conduct) (England) Order 2001, members of local authorities with a personal interest in a matter under discussion at any meeting of the authority must disclose to the meeting the existence and nature of that interest.

Licensing Hours

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what measures his Department plans to introduce training for local authority councillors who will sit on the new licensing boards that will grant extension to licensing hours.

Nick Raynsford: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no such plans. The Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services (LACORS)—a central body created by the UK local authority associations including the Welsh Local Government Association and funded by top-sliced revenue support grant—is providing advice, guidance, and developing training courses for councils' officers and members on the implementation of the Licensing Act 2003 (Part 2).

Local Elections

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 17 January 2005, Official Report, column 758W, on local elections, what estimate he has made of the cost of implementing the suggestion of the Electoral Commission to introduce freepost mailings in local elections; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has to date made no estimate of the cost of the Electoral Commission's recommendation. Local elections in Scotland, apart from the franchise, are a matter for the Scottish Office.

Local Government

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what freedoms councils with a (a) good and (b) excellent comprehensive performance assessment result have gained; and how long those freedoms last.

Nick Raynsford: The Government announced in November 2002 a package of freedoms and flexibilities for local authorities which would be granted following Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA). All authorities have gained new powers to borrow and to charge for discretionary services, and the freedom to spend surplus street parking income on environmental improvements. We have also given them powers to establish Business Improvement Districts and to vary council tax discounts.
	In addition authorities with an excellent, good or fair CPA assessment have been given the power to trade in function-related activities. As set out in our response on 31 January 2005, Official Report, column 650–51W, to the hon. Member's recent question about plans, we have also relaxed plan requirements for good and excellent authorities.
	In addition, good councils have significantly reduced inspection and excellent councils receive virtually no inspection. Excellent authorities are not subject to ring-fenced funding apart from that passed direct to schools. Excellent authorities are also able to join the Innovation Forum to explore new ways of working to enable local government to better meet local needs.
	Councils retain CPA based freedoms provided they retain their CPA results. Councils that lose good or excellent status are able to retain freedoms contingent on CPA categorisations for at least a year, although we would consider removing them in cases of serious failure.

Local Government

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on plans (a) the Government and (b) the Audit Commission have to extend Comprehensive Performance Assessment to (i) the fire service and (ii) police authorities.

Nick Raynsford: The Government have invited the Audit Commission to take on the role of performance assessment for the Fire and Rescue Service in England. The Audit Commission is currently implementing the Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) across the 46 English Fire and Rescue Authorities and will publish the results by August 2005. London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority has already been assessed as part of the Greater London Authority's Initial Performance Assessment.
	Neither the Government nor the Audit Commission have any specific plans at present to extend the CPA to Police Authorities. However, the recently published Police Reform White Paper, Building Communities, Beating Crime, suggests a package of measures intended to clarify and strengthen new accountability arrangements for policing. These propose that police authorities, for the first time, be subject to inspection and intervention. The detail of this will be worked though in conjunction with stakeholders.

Local Government

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will publish the regulatory impact assessment produced for the Comprehensive Performance Assessment regime.

Nick Raynsford: Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) was introduced in 2002. Prior to April 2004, no regulatory impact assessment was required for any proposal that impacted solely on public services, and it was determined at the time that the CPA proposals met this criteria.
	The Audit Commission are currently consulting on proposals for Comprehensive Performance Assessment from 2005. These proposals include a reduction, by 2006–07, of 68 per cent. in the volume of inspection required to support CPA, compared to the 2002–03 level. A regulatory impact assessment has not been provided with this consultation because current guidelines only demand one for public sector proposals that impose an additional burden of over £5 million per annum.

Local Government Finance

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 24 January 2005, Official Report, column 1978W, on local government finance, for which grants Torbay unitary authority may apply; for which grants Torbay unitary authority has applied; and for which grants applications were successful.

Nick Raynsford: The following table lists all grants allocated to Torbay unitary authority in 2004–05 within aggregate external finance (AEF) in addition to revenue support grant and national non-domestic rates. These were the grants referred to in the answer of 24 January 2005, Official Report, column 198W. There are other grants outside AEF but these are not provided for an authority's core services and relate, in the main, to areas of funding which are passed on by local authorities, such as mandatory student awards. For the most part, the authority was entitled to these grants and did not in 2004–05 need to apply in order to receive an allocation.
	
		Torbay -- £ million
		
			 Grant Amount 
		
		
			 Standards Fund 2.809 
			 Teachers' Pay Reform 1.855 
			 Sure Start General Grant 1.670 
			 Leadership Incentive 0.364 
			 Transitional Support 0.182 
			 School Standards 2.007 
			 Safeguarding Children 0.230 
			 Carers Grant 0.372 
			 Training Support 0.161 
			 National Training Strategy 0.083 
			 Preserved Rights 3.480 
			 Adoption Support and Special Guardianship 0.059 
			 Choice Protects 0.077 
			 Human Resources Development Strategy 0.063 
			 Access and Systems Capacity 1.542 
			 Children and Adolescent Mental Health 0.155 
			 Residential Allowance 1.793 
			 Teenage Pregnancy Local Implementation 0.101 
			 Mental Health 0.342 
			 AIDS Support 0.018 
			 Delayed Discharge 0.337 
			 Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit administration(19) 1.160 
			 Performance Standards(20) 0.266 
			 Civil Defence 0.067 
			 Waste Targeted Grant 0.057 
			 Probation Loan Charges 0.060 
			 Neighbourhood Wardens 0.034 
			 Planning Delivery 0.510 
			 Supporting People 6.130 
			 Supporting People Administration 0.155 
			 Magistrates Courts 0.854 
			 Rural Bus Subsidy 0.015 
			 Homelessness Strategies(21) 0.060 
			 Private Finance Initiative 1.800 
		
	
	(19)Authorities need to submit management information to receive the correct amounts of housing benefits and council tax benefits administration.
	(20)The amount for the HB/CTB Performance Standards is an amount that the local authority has applied for and has been awarded. Payment is dependent on payment progressing.
	(21)Part of grant involves a bid and payment is dependent on key homelessness indicators.
	Some grants are also provided on the basis of eligibility (such as some Standards Fund initiatives where schools might receive support as a result of being designated for a particular role, or in the case of the Teacher Pay Reform Grants where grant is paid on the basis of information held about teacher numbers and salaries).

Local Government Finance

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the transition phase, following the introduction of the new formula grant system in 2003–04 will end; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: I have made clear that the floor damping mechanism is an integral part of the new formula grant system introduced in 2003–04. This ensures that all authorities receive an increase in formula grant at least equal to the floor.
	The floor damping mechanism protects authorities from both changes in the underlying formula and from changes in the socio-economic data used in the formula grant calculations. We have no intention of removing this protection.

Local Government Ombudsman

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1) what proportion of the staff employed in investigations on behalf of the Local Government Ombudsman previously worked in local government;
	(2)  whether the procedures for appointment of the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) have been altered since the last occasion on which a LGO was appointed.

Nick Raynsford: Information on the proportion of the investigations staff of the Local Government Ombudsman who previously worked in local government is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Although the Local Government Ombudsman service falls outside the remit of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA), new appointments will continue to be conducted in accordance with OCPA's guidance—as they were in 2001 when the last appointment was made.

Local Government Pensions

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many representations he has received expressing concerns about the proposed changes to the local government pension scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment)(No 2) Regulations 2004 were laid before the House on 22 December 2004 and come into force on 1 April 2005. Amending regulations were the subject of a statutory consultation exercise between 31 March and 30 June 2004. Some 290 responses expressing concerns were received from that exercise and, of those, 220 involved correspondence from hon. Members on behalf of their constituents. Subsequently, around 5,000 items of additional correspondence have been received, representing 0.3 per cent. of the 1.5 million current active Scheme membership. Since the end of the consultation exercise, a further 530 items of correspondence have been received from hon. Members, enclosing a variety of trades union campaign letters and leaflets.

Meden Valley

John Mann: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1) what legal opinion has been sought by English Partnerships in relation to compulsory purchase of properties in the Meden Valley;
	(2)  how many repairs orders due to public safety have been issued through the Meden Valley Partnership;
	(3)  how many residents have neither requested to move nor opposed compulsory purchase of their home under the Meden Valley Partnership; and how many of these are over 80 years old;
	(4)  how many residents of the Royal Estate and Warsop Vale have indicated a wish to remain living in their area under the Meden Valley partnership;
	(5)  what meetings have taken place between the Meden Valley partnership and the police about drug dealing and antisocial behaviour in the last two years;
	(6)  how many letters of thanks have been received by the Meden Valley partnership from local residents since its inception;
	(7)  when English Partnerships expects to build new houses in Warsop as part of the Meden Valley partnership;
	(8)  what plans English Partnerships has to meet its commitment to involve residents in the management of housing regeneration projects in Warsop;
	(9)  when and under what authority English Partnerships required means testing for existing tenants to buy new homes in Warsop under the Meden Valley partnership;
	(10)  how much public money has been spent through the Meden Valley partnership;
	(11)  how many homes have been refurbished under the Meden Valley partnership;
	(12)  when an employee of the East Midland Development Agency last entered (a) a house and (b) an area under threat of compulsory purchase from the Meden Valley partnership;
	(13)  when an employee of English Partnerships last entered (a) a house and (b) an area under threat of compulsory purchase from the Meden Valley partnership.

Keith Hill: I will write to my hon. Friend in due course.

Midlands Way

Mark Todd: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the framework is for consultation on the Midlands Way; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Hill: The consultation paper SMART Growth: The Midlands Way was launched on 1 February at the Delivering Sustainable Communities Summit in Manchester by the two Midlands Regional Development Agencies. Details can be obtained from the East Midlands Development Agency or Advantage West Midlands websites at www.emda.org.uk and www.advantagewm.co.uk.

Millennium Dome

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total public expenditure on the Millennium Dome was in each year from 1997–98, broken down by (a) cost centre and (b) department.

Keith Hill: Expenditure of taxpayers money on the Dome, by English Partnerships, in the years requested, was as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1997–98 0 
			 1998–99 73,000 
			 1999–2000 1.402 million 
			 2000–01 5.225 million 
			 2001–02 10.845 million 
			 2002–03 7.245 million 
			 2003–04 4.157 million 
			 2004–05 (22)2.228 million 
		
	
	(22)To end of November 2004
	This was expenditure on:
	the decommissioning of the Dome;
	the sale process which concluded in June 2004 when the commercial transaction between English Partnerships and Meridian Delta Ltd. and Anschutz Entertainment Group went unconditional;
	the costs of management, maintenance, security and insurance of the Dome, including English Partnerships staff costs.

Moving Out of London Scheme

Mark Fisher: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many tenants who left London under the Moving Out of London scheme have since returned to London.

Keith Hill: The number of tenants who left London under the LAWN (moving out of London) scheme is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Calendar year Transfers out Number of returnees(23) Percentage returnees(23) 
		
		
			 2004–05 (24)347 (24)17 4.9 
			 2003–04 519 26 5.0 
			 2002–03 469 23 4.9 
			 2001–02 312 16 5.1 
			 Pre April 2001 56 3 5.4 
			 Total 1,703 85 5.0 
		
	
	(23)Information regarding returnees is reliant solely on feedback received from landlords and occasionally from movers who expressed an interest in a move back to London and contacted LAWN for advice.
	(24)To date.

Parliamentary Boundaries (Wales)

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he has received the report from the Boundary Commission for Wales on the proposed new parliamentary boundaries in Wales; when he will lay the Order implementing the changes; and if he will deposit a copy of the report in the Library.

Nick Raynsford: A copy of the Boundary Commission for Wales' report was presented to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on 31 January 2005. Under the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986 we are required to lay the report before Parliament, together with a draft of an order in Council giving effect to the Commission's recommendations, with or without modifications, as soon as may be. Copies of the Commission's report will be made available in the Library of the House.

Parliamentary Boundaries (Wales)

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what dates he has planned for implementing the recommendations of the Boundary Commission in Wales.

Nick Raynsford: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister received the Report of the Welsh Parliamentary Boundary Commission on Monday 31 January. By statute, we are obliged to lay this report before Parliament, together with a draft Order in Council giving effect to the new constituencies, as soon as may be after receiving it, and if Parliament approves the draft, to submit that draft to Her Majesty in Council. Subsequently the Order will be made and come into force immediately thereafter or at such later date as may be provided for in the Order.

Repossessions (Durham)

Gerry Steinberg: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many repossessions by building societies and other providers of mortgages in the City of Durham there were in each of the last four years.

Keith Hill: Figures for the total number of properties taken into possession by mortgage lenders are published half-yearly by the Council of Mortgage Lenders. These figures do not contain a district or regional breakdown. The most recent statistics published indicate that the number of properties taken into possession in the second half of 2004 was the lowest since 1982.

Right to Buy

Clive Betts: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will update the affordability index used to determine the areas included within the scope of the Housing (Right-to-Buy) (Limits on Discounts) (Amendments) Order 2003 (Statutory Instrument 2003 No. 498).

Keith Hill: The Housing (Right-to-Buy) (Limits on Discount) (Amendment) Order 2003 came into force on 27 March 2003. It reduced to £16,000 the maximum Right-to-Buy discount available to tenants in 41 areas in London and the South of England that appeared to be under the greatest housing market pressure in terms of high levels of homelessness and high property prices. The Government are keeping the position on maximum discounts generally under review.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what role is fulfilled by the third special adviser in his Department.

Yvette Cooper: Special advisers in this Department are appointed under the terms and conditions set out in the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.

Standard Spending Assessments

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the standard spending assessment per capita is for each of the English regions in 2004–05.

Nick Raynsford: Formula Spending Share per head for each English region is in the following table:
	
		
			 Local authority 2004–05 Formula Spending Shares (£ million) Mid-2002 population estimates 2004–05 Formula Spending Shares per head (£ per head) 
		
		
			 South West 5,363.112 4,961,277 1,080.99 
			 South East 8,814.046 8,038,386 1,096.49 
			 London 11,153.992 7,355,354 1,516.45 
			 Eastern 6,090.967 5,420,360 1,123.72 
			 East Midlands 4,741.697 4,215,492 1,124.83 
			 West Midlands 6,530.525 5,304,124 1,231.22 
			 Yorkshire and  Humberside 6,075.435 4,982,503 1,219.35 
			 North East 3,213.502 2,513,274 1,278.61 
			 North West 8,592.046 6,770,981 1,268.95

Thames Gateway

Sydney Chapman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much of the additional floor space required to accommodate the new jobs that the Government plan to realise in the Thames Gateway between 2003 and 2016 has received planning permission.

Keith Hill: Data are not held centrally about the amount of floor space expected to be provided by new developments for which planning permission has been granted by local authorities.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does hold data on the total amount of existing commercial and industrial floor space. Across local authority districts in the Thames Gateway, this figure was 24.8 million m 2 in 2004.

Thames Gateway

Sydney Chapman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many of the planned new dwellings in the Thames Gateway for construction between 2003 and 2016 have received planning permission.

Keith Hill: Data on the number of dwellings within planning permissions granted by local authorities are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Housing delivery is, however, monitored by returns on housing completions from local authorities to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and to the Regional Planning Bodies.

Traveller Sites

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what helpline services the Government provide to travellers; and how much was spent on such services in the last period for which figures are available.

Yvette Cooper: pursuant to the reply, 31 January 2005, Official Report, c. 655W
	I regret that incorrect information was provided. The correct information is set out as follows:
	The Legal Services Commission is a non-departmental public body, funded by the Department of Constitutional Affairs and responsible for providing civil legal aid in England and Wales. The commission provides funding to the Community Law Partnership, a legal practice based in Birmingham, in order to provide a national helpline for Gypsies and Travellers. The Legal Services Commission advise that this service costs around £50,000 a year. One of the objectives of the commission is to help those who are socially excluded. Travellers fall within this group.

NORTHERN IRELAND

A-level Courses

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the Government of the Republic of Ireland regarding the implications of the recent Trinity College Dublin decision to place a cap on the maximum number of students taking certain courses who come through the Northern Ireland and UK A-Level entry system.

Barry Gardiner: There have been no discussions with the Government of the Republic of Ireland on this issue. My officials have had discussions with Trinity College Dublin about the changes to their entry requirements and the effects these might have on Northern Ireland domiciled students.

Ceasefire (Police Numbers)

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the number of police officers that would be required in the Province if there were to be (a) a full-scale return to terrorism by republican and so-called loyalist terrorist organisations, (b) general observance of a ceasefire by republican and so-called loyalist terrorists but widespread criminality and (c) a total cessation of terrorist and criminal activities by all terrorist organisations.

Ian Pearson: The report of the Independent Commission on Policing, released in September 1999, recommended that the security situation prevailing at that time required the police service to employ 7,500 regular officers.
	This was accepted by the Government and the police service. The current established strength of the PSNI is 7,500 regular officers. They continue to be supported by full-time reserve officers. The chief constable recently decided to reduce the number of such officers to 680 by 2007–08. He believes that this level of resource, combined with 7,500 regular officers, will be sufficient for him to deliver an effective policing service to the people of Northern Ireland in the current environment.
	A decision on how large the Police Service of Northern Ireland would need to be to cater for an improved or worsened security and policing environment would be based on operational assessment, and subject to consideration by the chief constable, Government and the Policing Board.

Civil Servants

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his estimate is of the cost of the enhanced early retirement scheme for civil servants in his Department and its agencies, for each year from 1997–98 to 2003–04 and what the estimated cost will be in each year from 2004–05 to 2007–08; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The total cost for early retirement costs are published within the Northern Ireland Office Resource Accounts 2003–04, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.
	To separate out the enhanced part of early retirement costs could be achieved only at disproportionate cost.

Consultants

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total expenditure by his Department on external consultants was in (a) 1996–97 and (b) 2003–04; and what the estimated cost of employing external consultants will be in (i) 2004–05, (ii) 2005–06, (iii) 2006–07 and (iv) 2007–08.

Paul Murphy: The following table provides figures for the Northern Ireland Office (excluding its agencies and NDPBs):
	
		
			  Cost (£) 
		
		
			 1996–97 309,000 
			 2003–04 2,806,403 
			 2004–05(25) 1,746,049 
		
	
	(25)2004–05 actuals are only available to December 2004. The estimated figure, for the financial year 2004–05, is based on the actual spend to December 2004.
	Notes:
	1.PFI costs relating to a major computer system (Causeway Programme) within the department are not included in 2003–04 and 2004–05.
	2.The increases from 1996–97 to 2003–04 and 2004–05 can be mainly explained by expenditure on consultants in the following areas which were not applicable in 1996–97:
	the introduction of the findings of the Criminal Justice Review resulting in expenditure on consultancy by the Public Prosecution Service;
	review of the Electoral System in NI; and
	Bloody Sunday Inquiry IT consultancy costs.
	3.For the financial years 2005–06 to 2007–08, budgets have not yet been allocated to a level of detail to allow us to provide consultancy cost estimates for these years.

DEL Guidelines (Whistle-blowing)

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what guidelines the Department of Employment and Learning has issued to universities on dealing with cases of whistle-blowing.

Barry Gardiner: The Department for Employment and Learning has not directly issued any guidelines to the universities on whistle-blowing. A Guide for Members of Higher Education Governing Bodies in the UK" issued in November 2004 by the Higher Education Funding Council for England on behalf of the Committee of University Chairmen (CUC) includes guidance specifically on whistle-blowing. The three Higher Education Funding Councils in Great Britain and the Department all contributed to the preparation of the CUC Guide.

New Deal (Disabled People)

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland have benefited from the New Deal for people with disabilities.

Barry Gardiner: From its introduction in 1999 to the end of 2004, 5408 people registered to enter the programme and 1,832 entered employment.

Paid Informers

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what changes have taken place in the use by special branch of paid informers within republican and so-called loyalist terrorist organisations since the implementation of the Patten report.

Ian Pearson: The PSNI, like all UK police services, manages covert human intelligence sources (CHIS) under procedures laid down by the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. The use of all intelligence sources is also managed within the guidelines of the UK National Intelligence Model (NIM).
	Both the Act and NIM were introduced after the Patten report. The lead responsibility for management of this activity lies with the PSNI Crime Operations Department.

Primary School Enrolment (Lisburn)

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the (a) actual and (b) maximum total enrolment figures are for all primary schools within the Lisburn city council area.

Barry Gardiner: In 2004–05, the figure for total actual enrolments at primary schools within the Lisburn city council area is 9,914 pupils. The overall approved enrolment total was 13,590 pupils.
	
		
			 School  Enrolment number 
			 reference School name Approved Actual 
		
		
			 4010512 McKinney Primary School 145 125 
			 4010720 Ballycarrickmaddy Primary School 203 162 
			 4010743 Largymore Primary School 412 168 
			 4010762 Brownlee Primary School 179 142 
			 4010788 Dunmurry Primary School 262 148 
			 4010807 Lisburn Central Primary School 335 230 
			 4010882 Seymour Hill Primary School 291 203 
			 4010885 Tonagh Primary School 228 158 
			 4011508 Charley Memorial Primary School 76 20 
			 4011584 Carr Primary School 100 86 
			 4011608 Anahilt Primary School 300 238 
			 4011619 Dromara Primary School 152 128 
			 4011627 Lambeg Primary School 76 20 
			 4011633 Hillsborough Primary School 397 386 
			 4011648 Hillhall Primary School 51 52 
			 4011686 Drumbo Primary School 100 19 
			 4013039 Newport Primary School 145 41 
			 4013305 Harmony Hill Primary School 729 634 
			 4013308 Fort Hill Primary School 240 205 
			 4013309 Derriaghy Primary School 125 53 
			 4013334 Knockmore Primary School 212 171 
			 4016104 Moira Primary School 382 383 
			 4016144 Old Warren Primary School 305 111 
			 4016145 Killowen Primary School 420 358 
			 4016202 Lower Ballinderry Primary School 193 170 
			 4016401 Pond Park Primary School 598 585 
			 4016417 Maghaberry Primary School 227 218 
			 4016441 Ballymacash Primary School 334 327 
			 4016615 Riverdale Primary School 203 190 
			 4016636 Meadow Bridge Primary School 290 247 
			 4030573 Ballymacward Primary School 145 105 
			 4030823 Ballymacrickett Primary School 261 257 
			 4030897 St. Joseph's Primary School 395 223 
			 4031693 St. Colman's Primary School 87 29 
			 4033306 St. Aloysius Primary School 490 259 
			 4033307 St. Colman's Primary School 436 332 
			 4036081 St. Luke's Primary School 665 255 
			 4036134 St. Mark's Primary School 611 533 
			 4036285 The Good Shepherd Primary School 823 413 
			 4036480 St. Kieran's Primary School 725 501 
			 4036591 Our Lady Queen of Peace Primary School 348 235 
			 4036618 Christ the Redeemer Primary School 410 400 
			 4046600 Scoil Na Fuiseoige 155 137 
			 4050618 Hilden Integrated Primary School 126 67 
			 4066611 Oakwood Integrated Primary School 203 190

Departmental Advertising

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total expenditure by his Department on (a) advertising and (b) advertising and publicity was in (i) 1996–97, (ii) 1997–98 and (iii) 2003–04; and what the estimate of cost of each will be in (A) 2004–05, (B)2005–06, (C) 2006–07 and (D) 2007–08.

Paul Murphy: The following table provides figures for the Northern Ireland Office (excluding agencies and NDPBs). The figures provided are totals for both advertising and publicity as the Northern Ireland Office does not record these types of expenditure separately.
	
		
			  Total expenditure (£) 
		
		
			 1996–97 480,160 
			 1997–98 616,752 
			 2003–04 460,101 
			 2004–05 (Estimate) 600,960 
		
	
	In 2004–05, a one-off expense of £300,000 was made to cover the cost of the Government leafleting campaign What to do in the Event of a Public Emergency".
	For the financial years 2005–06 to 2007–08, budgets have not yet been allocated to a level of detail which would allow us to provide advertising and publicity cost estimates for these years.

School Performance Tables

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will reintroduce school performance tables in the Province.

Barry Gardiner: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Lidington) on 2 February 2005, Official Report, column 1003W.

Stevens Inquiry

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total cost of the Stevens Inquiry into allegations of collusion has been since it was first established.

Ian Pearson: Sir John Stevens' report is to the Chief Constable. The Stevens investigation has thus far been funded by the PSNI and is therefore a matter for the Chief Constable.
	I have asked the PSNI to provide the hon. Gentleman with the information requested.

TV Licences

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been fined in Northern Ireland for not possessing a television licence in 2004, broken down by parliamentary constituency or postcode.

Estelle Morris: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested is not available.

CABINET OFFICE

Local Authorities (Emergency Response Obligations)

Andrew George: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what level of (a) central Government grant and (b) financial support has been made available to each local authority to meet its statutory (i) civil contingencies, (ii) emergency planning and (iii) other emergency response obligations not otherwise catered for in the domestic budgets for the emergency services.

David Miliband: The Government's contribution to the cost of English local authorities' civil protection activities will be £38.437 million in 2005–06. This funding will be paid through the Environmental, Protective and Cultural Services block of the mainstream Revenue Support Grant, which is distributed to individual local authorities according to a broadly population-based formula. I have today placed a table in the Library exemplifying the consequences for the formula spending share of each local authority in England of this funding level.

Lone Parents

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on cross-departmental co-ordination of policies for lone parents.

Chris Pond: I have been asked to reply.
	Government policy on child care is taken forward by the inter-departmental Sure Start Unit, reflecting the cross-cutting role that child care plays in a number of Government objectives: helping parents into employment, supporting child development and in tackling child poverty.
	Helping lone parents into work is a key aspect of the child poverty agenda. The Child Poverty Review, published alongside the 2004 Spending Review, worked across Government to identify next steps both in relation to helping parents into work and on key public services such as housing, education and transport, to help poor families and improve the life chances of poor children.

Lyons Review

Ben Chapman: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on progress in implementing the Lyons review.

Paul Boateng: I have been asked to reply.
	As reported in the pre-Budget report in December 2004, around 4,000 posts will have been relocated out of London and the South East by the end of 2004–05. Further progress will be announced in Budget 2005.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

BBC

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what role she will play in the sale of BBC Broadcast.

Estelle Morris: Any sale of BBC Broadcast will require the approval of the Secretary of State by virtue of a condition attached when its incorporation was approved in 2002. No application for such approval has been made.

BBC

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether competent companies will be allowed access to BBC Broadcast's essential financial information in order to determine whether to make a bid for the company; and if she will make a statement.

Estelle Morris: I understand that the BBC plan to begin the formal sale process with a public advertisement by early March and will make increasing levels of commercial and financial information available to bidders as the sale process progresses.

BBC

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she expects to publish the Green Paper on the BBC Charter renewal; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: The BBC Charter Review Green Paper will be published shortly.

Departmental Catering

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many departmental (a) canteens and (b) bars there are; and how much has been spent on the (i) running, (ii) staffing and (iii) supply costs of each in each year since 1997.

Richard Caborn: The provision of canteen facilities, in the one staff canteen in the Department, is outsourced. Until 2001 the Department did not offer staff canteen facilities. As a new venture with no trading record the contract was an outsourced 'cost plus' contract costing as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2001–02 (26)104,432 
			 2002–03 91,340 
			 2003–04 67,431 
		
	
	(26)Including set-up costs.
	A new contractor won the contract as from October 2004 on a fixed price basis, the annual cost of the new contract should not exceed £53,000.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much the Department spent on lawyers in each year since 1997; how many (a) actions, (b) settlements and (c) court cases there were in each year; and what the costs were of each settlement.

Richard Caborn: The Department incurred the following costs in relation to actual or potential litigation each financial year since 1997.
	
		
			Financial yearTotal cost (£) Number of files worked on by the Treasury Solicitor's Department 
		
		
			 1997–98 199,939.10 8 
			 1998–99 657,153.11 20 
			 1999–2000 25,075.46 15 
			 2000–01 36,943.57 12 
			 2001–02 72,858.21 15 
			 2002–03 198,092.75 29 
			 2003–04 122,799.77 22 
			 2004–05 146,997.05 17 
		
	
	The column headed Total cost" shows the total annual cost to the Department of legal services relating to litigation in courts and tribunals (including services which did not result in the issue of proceedings).
	The Treasury Solicitor's Department's charges for services relating to litigation (which form by far the greatest part of the annual total) include the cost of (a) litigation lawyers (including solicitors and counsel) and other staff, (b) services and disbursements not attributable to the cost of lawyers (such as court fees) and (c) for the years up to 2001–02, costs and damages paid to other parties in litigation by the Department. After 2001–02, costs and damages paid to other parties in litigation come out of the Department's Treasury Solicitor's budget and such information could be provided only at a disproportionate cost
	The column headed Number of files worked on by the Treasury Solicitor's Department" shows the number of files" worked on by the Treasury Solicitor's Department in each year. On receipt of instructions from the Department, a file" is opened by the Treasury Solicitor's Department to provide a reference for billing purposes. Such a file" will usually correspond with a court case (or action), but this is not always so. For example, a number of cases may be dealt with under one file" reference; or there may be a file" for a claim which is resolved before the issue of court proceedings. Many of the files" will have been worked on in more than one year. If so, the file" is included in each of the relevant years.
	A breakdown of this information to give details of the number of cases, how many of these were settled or proceeded to a full hearing, and the legal costs of each case on an annual basis could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The Department's own lawyers assist in the conduct of litigation on behalf of the Department but the costs to the Department of their services are not included in this answer because it is not possible to separate these costs from the total costs of the services they provide.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been spent on the production of in-house magazines in the Department in each year since 1997.

Richard Caborn: The figures for DCMS expenditure on in-house magazines in the years since 1997 are as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1997–98 0 
			 1998–99 0 
			 1999–2000 0 
			 2000–01 0 
			 2001–02 0 
			 2002–03 10,770.85 
			 2003–04 10,231.26 
			 2004–05 (27)4,851.58 
		
	
	(27)To date

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been spent on (a) provision of parking spaces for civil servants and (b) parking tickets and penalties incurred by civil servants in the Department in each year since 1997.

Richard Caborn: Nine parking spaces are available and included in the lease cost of two of the Department's buildings. One additional space is provided at a third building at a cost of £2,500 per annum. Parking tickets and penalties are the responsibility of the individual concerned.

Digital Television

Syd Rapson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to ensure that people living in multiple dwelling units have access to digital television after switchover.

Estelle Morris: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Sittingbourne and Sheppey (Mr. Wyatt) on 1 February 2005, Official Report, column 784W.

Digital Television

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to ensure that digital television reception will be available to occupants of multiple dwelling units via (a) satellite and (b) digital terrestrial television through communal aerial systems; and if she will make a statement.

Estelle Morris: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Sittingbourne and Sheppey (Mr. Wyatt) on 1 February 2005, Official Report, column 784W.

Fixed Odds Betting Terminals

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  when she received a copy of the Association of British Bookmakers report on fixed odds betting terminals; and what assessment her Department has made of its findings;
	(2)  what conclusions her Department has reached on the impact of high stake slot machines, with particular reference to fixed odds betting terminals, on problem gambling;
	(3)  what assessment she has made of evidence from Gamcare on the effect of fixed odds betting terminals on the Gamcare helpline for problem gamblers; and whether she is re-examining the voluntary code drawn up with bookmakers in the light of that evidence.

Richard Caborn: The research commissioned by Association of British Bookmakers (ABB) on fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs) was shared with Government in November 2004. I sent a summary of the report to all members of Standing Committee B on the Gambling Bill on 6 January 2005.
	DCMS has commissioned a peer review of the ABB's research and will make the results of this review available shortly.
	No policy decisions will be made on the basis of a single piece of research.
	High stake slot machines, including FOBTs, remain on probation and we will continue to adopt a cautious approach. Government will not hesitate to act should there be sound evidence of harm.
	I understand that Gamcare is in the process of compiling its Care Services report, which will include information on helpline calls regarding fixed odds betting terminals. I await the publication of this report with interest.

Goodison Review

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions her Department has had with the Treasury about implementing the recommendations of the Goodison review.

Estelle Morris: The Department's discussions with the Treasury are reflected in the Spending Review 2004 announcements that:
	annual funding for the National Heritage Memorial Fund will double by 2007–08, compared to 2004–05;
	the Renaissance in the Regions programme for regional museums will be extended to all nine English regions; and
	the free access commitment, which currently covers the main national museums and galleries, and the VAT refund scheme that helps deliver free access, will be extended to university museums and galleries.
	The two Departments also discussed our plans for the transfer of functions between DCMS and MLA: these are now well under way.

Iraq

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on her recent discussions with the Iraqi Minister of Culture on (a) Babylon and (b) Itatra.

Tessa Jowell: I spoke to the Iraqi Culture Minister on 26 January about the damage done to the site of Babylon. I expressed my sympathy and was able to outline the assistance that the UK is able to provide. My Department will be providing funding for three interns to come to the UK to learn the skills that will be necessary in the reconstruction and management of the Babylon site. I will be writing to the Minister shortly confirming that offer of assistance.
	I have not spoken to the Minister directly on the subject of Hatra. However, I will raise this issue in my letter to him.

Liquor Licences (Essex)

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many liquor licences were revoked from (a) public houses, (b) wine bars and (c) nightclubs in (i) Southend-on-Sea and (ii) Essex in each year since 1997.

Richard Caborn: We do not have the breakdown of figures in the categories requested, but we can provide figures for all premises with justices' on-licences which include public houses, nightclubs and wine bars.
	We do not collate numbers of nightclubs specifically. However under the Licensing Act 1964, a special hours certificate is required to permit the sale and consumption of alcohol during specified times on particular days outside the permitted hours up to 2.00 am, and 3.00 am in the West End of London. These certificates apply to on-licensed premises and registered clubs which have a music and dancing licence and provide substantial refreshment. We can supply the figures for the number of special hours certificates refused, but not the numberof special hours certificates revoked.
	Statistics on the number of justices' on-licence revocations in England and Wales are collected on a triennial basis. The figures for years 1995, 1998, 2001 were collated by the Home Office and we unable to break these down by county (see table 1 which shows the total numbers of justices' on-licence revocations and the number of special hours certificates refused in England and Wales).
	The figures for justices' on-licences revoked in Essex and the number of special hours certificates refused in 2004 are shown, as well as the number of justices' on-licences revoked in South East Essex (see table 2). Figures are for the year to 30 June.
	
		Table 1
		
			   Year to 30 June  Total of justices' on-licences revoked Total number of special hours certificates refused 
		
		
			 1995 262 211 
			 1998 215 146 
			 2001 132 301 
		
	
	
		Table 2: Year to 30 June 2004
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Total number of justices' on-licences revoked in:  
			 Essex 11 
			 South East Essex 4 
			 Total number of special hours certificates refused in:  
			 Essex 4 
			 South East Essex 1

Lottery Funds

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on her policy on ring-fencing lottery funds for children's play.

Tessa Jowell: We have made clear our commitment that the Big Lottery Fund will operate with much less Government intervention than its predecessor, the New Opportunities Fund. Within a framework of broad themes, outcomes and priorities agreed with Government, the Big Lottery Fund will be responsible for designing programmes, choosing delivery mechanisms, identifying partners and selecting projects. Like other lottery distributors, the fund will not have Government defined, ring-fenced programmes but will engage more with local communities and respond to their aspirations and needs. We expect funding for children's play projects to continue to come from across all lottery distributors, and to reach £200 million between 2006 and 2012.

Official Residences

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the official residences for which her Department is responsible; who occupies each one; what the annual cost is of running each property; what contribution the occupants of each make towards running costs; what the total capital and refurbishment expenditure has been on those properties in each of the past five years; how much money was spent in each property on (a) flowers and plants, (b) wine and entertaining, (c) food, (d) telephone bills and (e) electricity and gas in 2003–04; how many (i)domestic and (ii) maintenance staff are employed at each property, broken down by post; and what the total cost of staff employment was in 2003–04.

Richard Caborn: DCMS does not have responsibility for any official residences.

Olympic Games 2012

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will press London 2012 to use the ground of Gloucester RFC for Olympic events if London's bid for the 2012 Games is successful.

Tessa Jowell: The Candidature File, submitted to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on 15 November 2004, contains detailed proposals for all sports venues that will be used in the event of London winning the right to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012. The venues were selected using the technical guidelines provided by the IOC and have been agreed by the International Sports Federations.

Olympic Games 2012

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on compensation to businesses which would be displaced by a successful bid to host the 2012 Olympic games.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 3 February 2005
	The London Development Agency (LDA) is responsible for assembling the land required to deliver the Olympic games in London in 2012. As part of this process of land assembly, the LDA is responsible for ensuring that any business that needs to be relocated receives compensation in line with the current legislation and is given the opportunity to relocate to an alternative site. The LDA has gone beyond its statutory obligations by making sure that each business has already received an offer making clear what compensation would be payable in the event that they need to be relocated. This compensation offer ensures that every business with a compensatable interest will receive the market value of their property interest and will also receive payments in respect of costs incurred in relocating their business, including any loss of profits directly attributable to the relocation. All of these payments will be made as though the property had been compulsorily acquired, even though no compulsory purchase order is currently in place and there is no obligation to offer compensation on this basis.
	In addition, for the past twelve months, the LDA has been offering to meet the professional adviser costs reasonably incurred by businesses affected by London's Olympic bid.

Stonehenge

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport who will bear the cost of (a) the Stonehenge visitor centre project, (b) the Countess roundabout A303(T) flyover and (c) the Stonehenge tunnel and Winterbourne Stoke bypass project.

Richard Caborn: The cost of the Stonehenge visitor centre project will be borne by English Heritage from Exchequer funding and fund raising. The Heritage Lottery Fund and the National Trust have committed to contributing toward the cost of the project and DCMS contributed £3 million towards the purchase of the site. The A303 Stonehenge Improvement, which consists of the Countess Roundabout junction, the Stonehenge Tunnel and the Winterbourne bypass, will be from transport funds with a contribution from heritage funds.

Stonehenge

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether it is her policy that the Stonehenge visitor centre project should proceed if the A303(T) tunnel project is (a) cancelled and (b) postponed.

Richard Caborn: The Government are committed to improving the setting of Stonehenge and providing appropriate facilities for one of the United Kingdom's iconic historic sites. Removal of the roads around Stonehenge is a crucial element in these improvements.

Television Licences

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people over the age of 75 in each of Northern Ireland's constituencies were entitled to free television licences at the latest date for which figures are available.

Estelle Morris: TV Licensing, who administer free television licences for people aged 75 or over as agents for the BBC, are not able to provide geographical breakdowns of the number of free licences issued. However, 2001 Census data indicate that the approximate number of people aged 75 or over living in each constituency in Northern Ireland was as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Belfast, East 7,474 
			 Belfast, North 6,498 
			 Belfast, South 6,488 
			 Belfast, West 4,083 
			 East Antrim 4,968 
			 East Londonderry 5,014 
			 Fermanagh and South Tyrone 5,723 
			 Foyle 4,203 
			 Lagan Valley 5,858 
			 Mid Ulster 4,333 
			 Newry and Armagh 5,229 
			 North Antrim 6,492 
			 North Down 7,301 
			 South Antrim 4,891 
			 South Down 5,798 
			 Strangford 5,850 
			 Upper Bann 5,590 
			 West Tyrone 4,344

Television Licences

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people owning a television licence live in multiple dwelling units in (a) the private sector and (b) social housing.

Estelle Morris: The information requested is not available. The BBC have indicated that the data held by TV Licensing on licences in force do not distinguish between licensable addresses on the basis of whether or not they form part of a building in multiple occupation, nor—with the exception of applications for the Accommodation for Residential Care concessionary scheme—between private sector and social housing.

Television Licences

Ronnie Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many households in Blyth Valley are in receipt of free television licences.

Estelle Morris: TV Licensing, who administer free television licences for people aged 75 or over as agents for the BBC, are not able to provide geographical breakdowns of the number of free licences issued. However, the number of households with at least one person aged 75 or over claiming the winter fuel payment in the Blyth Valley constituency in 2003–04 was 4,135, according to Department for Work and Pensions records.

Television Licences

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many students have been fined for non-possession of a television licence since 2000.

Estelle Morris: holding answer 4 February 2005
	The information requested is not available as records are not kept of the occupation of those fined for television licence evasion.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Arms Exports (West Africa)

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on arms sales to (a) Burkina Faso, (b) Benin, (c) Ghana, (d) Co(r)te d'Ivoire, (e) Mali, (f) Niger and (g) Nigeria.

Denis MacShane: The United Kingdom has one of the strictest and most transparent arms export licensing systems of any country. All export licence applications for all destinations are rigorously assessed on a case by case basis against the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria, taking account of the circumstances prevailing at the time and other announced Government policies. The criteria clearly set out, among other considerations, our commitment to take account of the risk that exports might be diverted within the buyer country, re-exported under undesirable conditions, used for internal repression, external aggression or to abuse human rights and the risk of reverse engineering or unintended technology transfer.
	Furthermore, for arms exports to the Co(r)te d'Ivoire, the UK implements fully the arms embargo imposed by UN Security Council resolution 1572 of 15 November 2004, prohibiting the sale or supply of military equipment to Co(r)te d'Ivoire, with certain specific exemptions.
	For arms exports to Burkina Faso, Benin, Ghana, Mali, Niger and Nigeria, the Government also take full account of the Economic Community of West African States Moratorium declared on 1 November 1998 on the import, export and manufacture of light weapons.

Burkina Faso

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with (a) the Government of Burkina Faso, (b) European Union counterparts and (c) members of the Economic Community of West African States regarding the forthcoming presidential elections in Burkina Faso.

Chris Mullin: None.

Carbon Capture

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what matters in respect of bilateral UK-China co-operation on carbon capture and storage were discussed during his recent visit to China; and what programmes for scientific consideration on carbon sequestration have been established with countries in South and South East Asia.

Denis MacShane: During his recent visit to China, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed in general terms G8 priorities, including Climate Change, with Premier Wen and Foreign Minister Li. In addition, discussions are ongoing with China on a possible Memorandum of Understanding for signature by the end of this year that may include scientific cooperation on carbon sequestration
	No programmes specifically for scientific consideration on carbon sequestration have been established with countries in South and South East Asia. However, a UK-Philippines Memorandum of Understanding was signed by my right hon. Friend the then Minister for Energy and Construction (Mr. Wilson) and the Philippines Minister of Energy in early 2003 which includes collaboration on cleaner fossil fuel technologies and more efficient energy end-use technologies and techniques and may therefore cover issues related to carbon sequestration.

China

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the policy of the Chinese Government to repatriate refugees from North Korea; and if he will urge the Chinese Government to end this policy.

Denis MacShane: We have concerns about the situation of North Korean asylum seekers in China. We have raised the matter on a number of occasions with the Chinese Government, most recently during the UK/China Human Rights Dialogue in Beijing on 22 November 2004. We continue to urge China to observe its obligations under the 1951 UN Convention on Religion and allow the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees access to the China/North Korea border region.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State forForeign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will reply to the letter dated 8 December 2004 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Majid Ali.

Denis MacShane: My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Rammell) replied on 27 January.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will reply to the letter dated 15 November 2004 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Samiul Alam.

Denis MacShane: I refer my right hon. Friend to the replies my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Mullin) gave him on 19 January 2005, Official Report, column 1018W and on 27 January 2005, Official Report, column 523W. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary replied on 7 December.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will reply to the letter dated 9 November 2004 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to S.Hameed.

Denis MacShane: I refer my right hon. Friend to the reply my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Mullin) gave him on 19 January 2005, Official Report, column 1019W. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary replied on 20 December.

Cuba

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Cuban authorities concerning (a) Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet and (b) Jorge Luis Garcia Pe"rez (Atu"nez).

Bill Rammell: We regularly raise human rights cases—including those of political prisoners Dr. Oscar Biscet and Jorge Luis Garcia Pe"rez (Atu"nez)—with the Cuban authorities in London and in Havana. We have been monitoring their situation and health, and our embassy staff maintain close contacts with local human rights groups involved in their cases and with friends and family of the individuals. Dr. Biscet visited our embassy in November 2002 shortly before his arrest and the embassy continues to maintain regular contact with his wife, Elsa Morejon. The Government are aware of considerable public interest in the fate of all political prisoners in Cuba, including the two mentioned here. The case of Jorge Luis Garcia Pe"rez has also been raised both bilaterally and within the EU. The UK, along with EU partners, continues to urge the Cuban Government to release all political prisoners in Cuba.

Cuba

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreignand Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the maintenance of the EU's Common Position on Cuba.

Bill Rammell: The EU's Common Position on Cuba, adopted in 1996, aims to promote a peaceful transition towards pluralist democracy in Cuba, with respect for human rights and an improvement of the living standards of the Cuban people. The Common Position sets out a policy of constructive engagement and dialogue with both the Cuban government and all sectors of civil society as the best way to achieve this goal. The Common Position is re-evaluated annually. The UK and all other member states are committed to maintaining the Common Position as the basis for the EU's policy towards Cuba. This was reaffirmed by the EU's General Affairs and External Relations Council on 31 January.

Cuba

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions (a) he and (b) his Ministers have had with the Spanish Government concerning the EU Common Position on Cuba.

Bill Rammell: Both my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I have kept in touch with our counterparts from Spain, and other member states, during the recent review of EU policy towards Cuba. This review culminated in the adoption of new Council Conclusions at the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council on 31 January 2005. The EU reaffirmed its commitment to the 1996 EU Common Position.

Cuba

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Cuban Government concerning section 3(b) of the EU's Common Position on Cuba.

Bill Rammell: Promoting respect for human rights is fundamental to the UK's policy towards Cuba, as set out in the EU Common Position of 1996. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's 2004 Human Rights report contains a substantial section on Cuba and outlines more fully the work that the Government undertakes in this regard. The report can be accessed online at www.fco.gov.uk/humanrights.
	Following the March 2003 crackdown on dissidents, I summoned the Cuban Ambassador in London to express the UK's dismay for the Cuban government's actions. In all subsequent meetings with the ambassador I have raised human rights concerns.
	The UK will continue to use every opportunity to call for the release of all political prisoners and to urge the Cuban Government to apply greater respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, political reform and further economic liberalisation in Cuba.

Departmental Spending

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his latest estimate is of unallocated departmental spending in (a) 2005–06, (b) 2006–07, and (c) 2007–08; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), like all Government Departments, has to maintain a Departmental Unallocated Provision (DUP) which can be used to meet unanticipated events which could not have been foreseen at the time of the Spending Round. For the three years covered by the 2004 Spending Review the DUP is set at the following levels, as it steadily rises to the target of 2 per cent. of the FCO Core budget (i.e. excluding British Council and BBC World Service):
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 2005–06 16 
			 2006–07 19 
			 2007–08 22

Environmental Treaties

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Commonwealth counterparts on the policy of the US to specify non-adherence to international environmental treaties as a condition of bilateral trade agreements.

Denis MacShane: We are not aware of any such policy on the part of the US Government and Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers have therefore not discussed the issue with their Commonwealth counterparts.

International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia

Calum MacDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in the Hague to complete its work.

Denis MacShane: The Completion Strategy of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) has established deadlines for the completion of all investigations by end 2004, all trials by end 2008 and all appeals by end 2010.
	The ICTY met the first deadline. Both the President and Prosecutor of ICTY have, however, alerted the Security Council to the risk of slippage in the later dates, in particular given the number of indictees that remain at large.
	The United Kingdom takes every opportunity to encourage the ICTY to fulfil their mandate in the most effective and timely manner and will continue to press all countries to co-operate fully in the apprehension of fugitives.

International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia

Calum MacDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the total cost of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in the Hague has been (a) to the UN and (b) to the UK.

Denis MacShane: From 1993–2004 the total cost of the regular budget of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), based in The Hague, was approximately US $830 million.
	The regular budget is financed through assessed contributions, in line with an agreed UN scale, paid by all members of the United Nations. We estimate that the United Kingdom's contribution has averaged around 6.5 per cent., giving us a total bill to date of around US $54 million. In both 2004 and 2005 our contribution came to £5.8 million.

Iraq

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many ballot papers for the Iraqi election will be (a) printed and (b) issued; what arrangements have been put in place to ensure that surplus ballot papers are not used and counted; what arrangements are in place to ensure that there is no (i) multiple voting by individuals and (ii)voting by individuals in place of dead or absentee Iraqis; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: The Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq (IECI) printed 59 million ballot papers for the national and provincial elections. The total number of ballot papers allocated to a polling station was determined by the voter register. A small number of surplus ballots were provided to account for spoilt ballots. The IECI ensured that ballot papers were under observation throughout the process, including putting the ballots in tamper evident bags during transit to the tally centre.
	On polling day, voters were required to present identification and were checked against the voter register before entering the polling station and collecting a ballot paper. Once their vote was cast, their finger was marked with indelible ink.
	Before the election took place the voter register was presented for challenges. 4,500 deceased voters had already been removed at an earlier stage. Any that were identified during the challenge period were marked as ineligible.

Iraq

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking to ensure that (a) democratic political parties and (b) trade unionists in southern Iraq are protected from terrorists.

Denis MacShane: The Iraqi Security Forces and the Multi-National Force, mandated under UN Security Council Resolution 1546, work together to provide security in Iraq, including protection against terrorist attacks. Political parties and trade unionists benefit from the protection provided but there is no special security provision for them. A comprehensive security plan was drawn up for the elections on 30 January. Prime Minister Allawi stated on 30 January that despite the attacks on some polling stations, the security plan for the elections had been a success.

Iraq

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the measures his Department has taken to support polling for Iraqi expatriates in the forthcoming Iraqi elections (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) in dependent territories; how many eligible electors his Department estimates there to be; and what security measures have been brought in.

Chris Mullin: Out of Country Voting (OCV) for the Iraqi elections was organised by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). Voting took place in 14 countries including the UK but not in any of our Overseas Territories. Polling centres were established in London, Manchester and Glasgow. Initial figures suggest that almost 29,000 Iraqis voted in the UK.
	HMG did not have a direct role, but British officials met regularly with IOM officials to offer advice and assistance, and the police worked with the IOM to ensure that appropriate security arrangements were in place. There were no significant security incidents at polling centres in the UK.

Iraq

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  when (a) he, (b) officials of his Department and (c) representatives of the UK Government last had discussions with members and representatives of (i) the US Administration and (ii)the Iraqi interim authority concerning the detention of Amir Al-Saadi; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what discussions (a) he, (b) officials of his Department and (c) representatives of the UK Government had with members and representatives of (i) the US Administration and (ii) the Iraqi interim authority concerning the status under which Amir Al-Saadi is being detained; when this status was last (A)reviewed and (B) changed; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what discussions (a) he, (b) officials in his Department and (c) representatives of the UK Government have had with members and representatives of (i) the US Administration and (ii) the Iraqi interim authority concerning the release of Amir Al-Saadi; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: Our Embassy in Baghdad has raised Dr. Al-Saadi's case with the US authorities in Iraq and with senior members of the Iraqi Government. Dr. Al-Saadi was released by the US on 18 January 2005.

Iraq

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the role of Amir Al-Saadi in dealing with UN weapons inspectors since 1991; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The Government have made no formal assessment of the role of Dr. Al-Saadi in dealing with UN weapons inspectors.

Iraq

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the full text of the Iraqi declaration on Weapons of Mass Destruction of 7 December 2002 to be published.

Denis MacShane: The Iraqi declaration of 7 December 2002 was produced in response to UN Security Council Resolution 1441 and was submitted to the United Nations. It remains the property of the United Nations, and it is a matter for them to determine whether it should be made publicly available.

Iraq

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Iraqi Government concerning the release of Dr. Amir Al-Saadi.

Chris Mullin: Our embassy in Baghdad has raised Dr.Al-Saadi's case with the US authorities in Iraq and with senior members of the Iraqi Government. Dr. Al-Saadi was released on 18 January 2005.

Iraq

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions (a) he, (b) officials in his Department and (c) representatives of the UK Government have had with members and representatives of (i) the Kurdistan Democratic party, (ii) the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and (iii) other Kurdish parties in northern Iraq concerning (1) the elections and (2) the territorial integrity of Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: We regularly meet Kurdish representatives to discuss a range of political issues. We have consistently made clear that we believe the interests of all Iraqis are best served by maintaining the territorial unity of Iraq and by participating in the political transition process laid out in UN Security Council Resolution 1546.

Iraq

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions (a) he, (b) officials in his Department and (c) representatives of the UK Government have had with members and representatives of (i) the Turkoman community and (ii) the Turkoman Front on (A) the coalition plans for the future of Iraq, (B) the elections in Iraq and (C) the territorial integrity of Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: We regularly meet Turkoman representatives to discuss a range of political issues. We have consistently made clear that we believe the interests of all Iraqis are best served by maintaining the territorial unity of Iraq and by participating in the political transition process laid out in UN Security Council Resolution 1546. The issue of federalism is a matter for Iraqi's to address once the Transitional National Assembly and Government are in place, in the process of drafting a new constitution, which will be put to a popular referendum in October 2005.

Iraq

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of General Ilker Basbug's statement on 26 January concerning the impact of Kurdish migration to Kirkuk on the stability of the region; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The UK Government are aware of Turkish concerns about the demographic balance in Kirkuk, but have made clear that this is a matter for the Transitional National Assembly to address as outlined in the Transitional Administrative Law.

Iraq

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions (a) he, (b) officials in his Department and (c) representatives of the UK Government have had with members and representatives of (i) the Turkish Government and (ii) the Turkish armed forces concerning the elections in Iraq; what concerns were raised during these discussions; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: Under the UK/Turkey 2004 Prime-Ministerial Summit Action Plan the Governments of the UK and Turkey agreed to set up a strategic dialogue on Iraq in order to promote our shared objective of establishing a stable, prosperous and democratic Iraq. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed Iraq with the Turkish Foreign Minister a number of times in 2004, and most recently the Turkish special representative to Iraq, ambassador Osman Koruturk, visited the UK on 26 January and met with my right hon. Friend the Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean. Ambassador Koruturk reiterated Turkey's support for the political process in Iraq and the timing of elections. There was also discussion over how to promote greater involvement of all Iraqis in the political process and over the final status of Kirkuk.
	The Government also maintain a close dialogue with the Turkish armed forces. The Head of the Turkish General Staff, General Ozkok, visited the UK on 10 January and met with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence, UK Chief of Defence Staff, and various officials.

Iraq

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions (a) he, (b) officials in his Department and (c) representatives of the UK Government have had with members and representatives of (i) the US Administration, (ii) the Iraqi interim authority, (iii) the Government of Turkey and (iv) the Government of Israel concerning the territorial integrity of Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: In all our discussions with our international partners the UK has consistently made clear its support for the preservation of the territorial integrity of Iraq.

Iraq

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what latest estimate of civilian casualties he has received from the Iraqi Ministry of Health.

Chris Mullin: The Iraqi Ministry of Health released a statement on 28 January. It stated that records from some 180 hospitals show that:
	The numbers of casualties for the six months to the end of December are as follows:
	Terrorist incidents: 1,233 killed; 4,115 injured
	Military action: 2,041 killed; 8,542 injured
	Casualties of car bombs and other clearly identifiable terrorist attacks are recorded as being caused by terrorist incidents. All other casualties are recorded as military action. The casualties may include insurgents, civilians, and Iraqi police, who are treated in Ministry of Health hospitals. The casualties may have been killed or injured by terrorist or coalition forces. Coalition forces include Iraqi police, Iraqi security forces, and the multi-national forces".

Iraq

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what investigations have taken place into allegations of misappropriation of oil during the period of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq.

Denis MacShane: holding answer 4 February 2005
	United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR 1483) of 22 May 2003 established the International Advisory and Monitoring Board (IAMB) to ensure the Development Fund for Iraq (DFI) was used in a transparent manner for the purposes set out in UNSCR 1483. The IAMB consists of members of the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, the IMF, the United Nations and World Bank and, from 5 March 2004, representatives of the Iraqi administration.
	The IAMB approved the appointment of independent accountants, KPMG, to audit the DFI and Iraq's oil export sales. KPMG produced two audit reports covering Coalition Provisional Authority management of the DFI from 22 May 2003 to 28 June 2004. Both audit reports conclude that, with the exception of smuggling,
	the DFI Statement of Cash Receipts and Payment presents fairly, in all material respects, the receipts and payments of the DFI".
	The IAMB report recognises that
	all known oil proceeds ... have been properly and transparently accounted for in the DFI".
	IAMB audit reports are available on the IAMB website at www.iamb.info.

Iraq

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the next stage of the Volker Inquiry into the oil for food scandal in Iraq to report.

Denis MacShane: holding answer 4 February 2005
	The Independent Inquiry Committee established to investigate allegations of mismanagement and corruption in the operation of the Iraq Oil-for-Food Programme released an interim report on 3 February 2005. The Independent Inquiry Committee is expected to publish a further report, not due for at least a few months.

Iraq

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment the British embassy in (a) Damascus and (b) Tehran has made of (i) the reaction of the regimes in (A) Syria and (B) Iran to the recent elections in Iraq and (ii) the implication for relations between each country and Iraq in the future.

Jack Straw: holding answer 4 February 2005
	There has been no official response from the Syrian Government following the elections in Iraq. Prior to the elections, the Syrian Government supported the principle of holding elections but were concerned that the conditions were not ripe because many Iraqis were unlikely to participate.
	Syria supported the development of security and reconstruction in Iraq at the Sharm el-Sheik meeting in October 2004. However, Iraq remains concerned that insurgents and former Iraqi regime elements continue to operate from Syria; and Syria is keen to see the Multi-National Force withdraw from Iraq as soon as possible.
	Iran has welcomed the elections in Iraq. We understand that Iran's Foreign Minister, Dr. Kamal Kharrazi, has sent a message to Iraq's interim Foreign Minister, Hoshyar Zebari, calling it a successful and lively election and an important step towards creating a democratic infrastructure in Iraq. He expressed hope that the election would strengthen relations between Iran and Iraq.
	It is clear to us that a constructive relationship between Iran and Iraq would benefit the stability and security of the region. We hope Iran's actions will reflect the commitment made by its government spokesman that it would
	not interfere in Iraq's internal affairs".
	We also hope that following the elections in Iraq there will be a deepening of relations between Iraq and its neighbours.

Kongra-Gel

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the involvement of Kongra-Gel members in (a) illegal and (b) terrorist acts since 2003; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The UK and EU recognise Kongra-Gel as an illegal terrorist organisation that has been active in perpetrating illegal and terrorist acts since its formation on 15 November 2003.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the occasions between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004 when special advisers attended meetings with external representatives at which Ministers were not present.

Jack Straw: Special advisers hold meetings with a wide range of external representatives in their official capacity. All such meetings are conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.

Asian Tsunami

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action his Department is taking to help UK victims of the Asian tsunami to return to the UK.

Chris Mullin: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has made available a comprehensive package of assistance measures to those British Nationals, and their families, affected by the tsunami disaster. This includes, where appropriate, meeting the costs of repatriating victims. Full details of this package, as well as more information on the Government's response to the disaster, can be found at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Tsunami webpage, which can be reached at www.fco.gov.uk.
	British officials on the ground, including police and forensic experts, continue to work with the relevant local authorities to help identify and return victims to their loved ones as quickly as possible.

Turkey

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the extradition request to Germany for Remzi Kartal announced by the Turkish Justice Minister on 26 January; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: None. Extradition requests between third party countries are a matter for the countries involved.

Turkey

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of (a) the size and (b) the nature of the fire at the Beko Elektronik warehouse in Beylikduzu on 24 January; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: According to local media sources, the fire at the Beko Electronic Warehouse in Beylikduzu on 24 January caused more than $5 million worth of damage. Up to 35,000 electronic products, the majority being television sets, were apparently destroyed in the blaze.
	A press statement released by the military wing of the Kurdish Workers Party claimed responsibility for the fire. We have no reason to believe that the statement is not genuine.

Turkey

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the Roj TV announcement on 25 January, claiming PKK responsibility for the fire at the Beko Elektronik warehouse in Beylikduzu on 24 January; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: We have no reason to believe that the statement reported by Roj TV, in which the Kurdish Workers Party claimed responsibility for the fire, is not genuine.

Turkey

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of (a) the treatment of Huseyin Sunal while in police custody in Turkey in April 1996 and (b) the European High Court of Human Rights' ruling of 25 January concerning this case; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: Huseyin Sunal was taken into custody by the Turkish authorities on 1 April 1996 on suspicion of car theft. Sunal's claims that he was subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment while in custody, and that he was not given effective legal remedy at a domestic level, have been upheld by the European Court of Human Rights.
	There has, however, been significant improvement in Turkey's human rights record since 1996, brought about by the Turkish Government's EU-driven domestic reform programme. The European Commission's 2004 progress report on Turkey states that
	the Government's serious efforts to implement the legislative reforms have lead to a decline in instances of torture".
	Torture of the kind detailed in this case is now extremely rare in Turkey. A package of constitutional amendments was adopted by Turkey in May 2004, that included affirmation that international human rights agreements take precedence over domestic law. The Turkish Justice Minister has publicly affirmed his Government's commitment to uphold European Court of Human Rights judgments.

Ukraine

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking to facilitate the long-term goal of the Ukrainian Government of EU accession.

Denis MacShane: The Government welcome Ukraine's aspirations and strongly supports efforts to promote economic and political reform, bringing Ukraine closer in line with EU standards. The UK is working with EU partners to develop a programme of enhanced co-operation with Ukraine, responding to the priorities set out by President Yushchenko. The General Affairs and External Relations Council on 31 January welcomed President Yushchenko's intentions, stating that
	commitment to reform opens the way to a strengthening of relations between the EU and Ukraine."

Ukraine

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance the Government will provide to the new Government of Ukraine to enable internal reforms in the legal system, the media and minority rights.

Denis MacShane: The UK supports internal reform in Ukraine through both bilateral and multilateral programmes. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Global Opportunities Fund is supporting projects in Ukraine focusing on election transparency and accountability, support for the media in promoting accountability, and efforts to develop efficient and transparent policies and processes in border management.
	The Department for International Development's bilateral programme for Ukraine this financial year is expected to be £6 million, focusing on, inter alia, administrative and economic reform, strengthening governance, and working with civil society. The UK is working with EU partners to ensure that European Commission funding is able to respond quickly to the new Ukrainian Government's priorities for reform. The UK also supports the IMF, World Bank, and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in their efforts to promote reform in Ukraine.

Information Society World Summit

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what preparations his Department is undertaking for the World Summit on the Information Society in Tunis; what Department is taking the lead role in organising and preparing the UK Governmental delegation; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: The UK Government are actively involved in preparations for the World Summit on the Information Society in Tunis. My hon. Friend the then Minister for Energy, e-commerce and Postal services at the Department for Trade and Industry (Mr. Timms), led a UK delegation to the first summit in Geneva in December 2003 and officials are participating in the Preparatory Committees leading to the Tunis Summit this November.
	The UK will attend the summit as EU president and will be pressing for full participation by interested members of civil society, including NGOs and the business sector. My right hon. Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean raised these issues during a recent visit to Tunis. The summit itself will focus on implementation of the Geneva Declaration of Principles and Plan of Action, including internet governance issues and financial mechanisms for bridging the digital divide.

SCOTLAND

Consultants

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotlandwhat the total expenditure by his Department on external consultants was in (a) 1996–97 and (b) 2003–04; and what the estimated cost of employing external consultants will be in (i) 2004–05, (ii) 2005–06, (iii) 2006–07 and (iv) 2007–08.

Anne McGuire: The Scotland Office was established on 1 July 1999. In 2003–04, the office spent £10,044 on external consultants; no expenditure has been incurred so far during 2004–05. Budgets for future years have yet to be agreed.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much the Department spent on lawyers in each year since 1997; how many (a) actions, (b) settlements, (c) court cases there were in each year; and what the costs were of each settlement.

Anne McGuire: The Scotland Office was established on 1 July 1999. The in-house solicitors of the Office of the Advocate-General for Scotland provide legal assistance to the Scotland Office as well as other UK Departments; it is not however possible to separately identify the legal staff costs involved in defending actions against the Secretary of State for Scotland.
	There have been two actions raised against the Secretary of State for Scotland, one of which is ongoing. One case was abandoned by the pursuers but the Office incurred £6,363 in outlays. The current estimated cost of the ongoing case is £6,000.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the cost of travel within the UK for the Department was in each year since 1997; and how much of this was spent on (a) hire cars, (b) helicopter hire, (c) hotel accommodation and (d) subsistence.

Anne McGuire: The Scotland Office was established on 1 July 1999. The office also provides support services to the Office of the Advocate-General for Scotland (OAG); prior to 2003–04, separate records were not maintained of the travel costs for the two offices. Expenditure was as follows.
	
		Scotland Office/OAG -- £
		
			   Of which: 
			  Total travel costs Hire cars Hotel accommodation and subsistence(28) 
		
		
			 1999–2000(29) 212,402 1,576 36,482 
			 2000–01 360,085 3,055 87,005 
			 2001–02 332,560 3,653 73,111 
			 2002–03 322,377 4,499 62,218 
		
	
	
		£
		
			 2003–04 Scotland Office OAG 
		
		
			 Total travel costs 190,585 66,261 
			 Of which:   
			 Hire cars 3,282 60 
			 Of which:   
			 Hotel accommodation and subsistence(28) 46,191 12,328 
		
	
	(28)The office does not record the cost of hotel accommodation separately from the cost of subsistence
	(29)Part year
	There has been no expenditure on helicopter hire.
	All official travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules contained in the staff handbook and all ministerial travel is undertaken fully in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code" and Travel by Ministers", copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

Departmental Expenditure

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the total expenditure by his Department on (a) advertising and (b) advertising and publicity was in (i) 1996–97, (ii) 1997–98 and (iii) 2003–04; and what the estimate of cost of each will be in (A) 2004–05, (B)2005–06, (C) 2006–07 and (D) 2007–08.

Anne McGuire: The Scotland Office was established on 1 July 1999. The Office incurred no expenditure on these matters during 2003–04; no expenditure has been incurred so far during 2004–05. Budgets for future years have yet to be agreed.

Ministerial Visits

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many times a Minister in his Department has made an official visit to (a) an injured soldier and (b) bereaved families of soldiers; and who the Minister was in each case.

Alistair Darling: These are primarily matters for my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence for obvious reasons, and I refer the hon. Member to the reply he received on 2 February 2005, Official Report, column 899W. Scotland Office Ministers have not therefore undertaken any such visits.

Scotland Act

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what amendments have been made to the Scotland Act 1998 in each year since 1998.

Anne McGuire: As the information is rather lengthy, I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Libraries of the House.

HEALTH

Agenda for Change

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) funding will be made available and (b) time will be set aside for training and development of health professionals under the Agenda for Change programme.

John Hutton: By 2005–06, we will have made available around £1 billion of extra investment to fund the implementation of Agenda for Change. This is in addition to the costs of the general pay uplift of 10 per cent. over three years to 2005–06. The National Health Service knowledge and skills framework provides a single, comprehensive framework on which to base the review and development of all non-medical staff in the NHS. This will ensure better links between education and development and career and pay progression. This is additional to any national or local monies allocated for training and development. Detailed arrangements for training and development is a matter for local employers.

Agenda for Change

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Agenda for Change programme applies to staff employed by private companies providing services within the NHS.

John Hutton: Agenda for change is a collective agreement between the Department and trade unions representing national health service employees. It applies to a wide range of people employed by NHS organisations.
	Private sector contractors were not involved in the agenda for change negotiations and are not party to the collective agreement, which implements agenda for change.

Blood Glucose Strips

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many primary care trusts (PCTs) operate a policy restricting the number of blood glucose strips available to people with diabetes; and how many blood test strips have been supplied to patients in England on average per PCT in each of the past five years.

Rosie Winterton: Information on primary care trust (PCT) policies relating to the availability of blood glucose strips is not centrally collected. PCTs plan their services according to local need, taking into account relevant national guidelines.
	The following table shows the number of blood glucose monitoring strips dispensed in England from 1999–2003.
	
		Number of blood glucose monitoring strips dispensed in the community in England, and average number per PCT: 1999–2003 -- Million
		
			   Number of blood glucose monitoring strips Average number of blood glucose monitoring strips dispensed per PCT 
		
		
			 1999 212.3 0.7 
			 2000 252.1 0.8 
			 2001 301.7 1.0 
			 2002 361.8 1.2 
			 2003 398.4 1.3 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.The prescription information is from the Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) system, from the Prescription Pricing Authority (PPA), and is based on a full analysis of all prescriptions dispenses in the community, ie by community pharmacists and appliance contractors, dispensing doctors and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered in England. Also included are prescriptions written in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man but dispensed in England. The data do not cover drugs dispensed in hospitals, including mental health trusts, or private prescriptions.
	2.The average number of blood glucose monitoring strips per PCT has been calculated by dividing the total number of strips by 303 (the number of PCTs). It is not a weighted average and hence does not take into account PCT populations, or number of registered patients per PCT. PCTs came into existence in October 2002. For consistency, the average number of strips per PCT has used the current 303 PCTs for all five years.
	3.Blood glucose monitoring strips are defined within the British National Formulary (BNF) paragraph 6.1.6 Diagnostic and monitoring agents for diabetes mellitus".
	4.More information on prescriptions dispensed in the community in England are available at: http://www.publications.doh.gov.uk/prescriptionstatistics/index.htm
	Source:
	Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) data from the Prescription Pricing Authority (PPA).

Capital Investment (Worcestershire)

Michael Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what capital investment was made in NHS facilities in Worcestershire in each year since 1992.

Stephen Ladyman: The table shows the net book value of purchased capital additions for national health service trusts and primary care trusts (PCTs) in Worcestershire since 1996–97. Figures from before 1996–97 are not available.
	
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 1996–97 7,161 
			 1997–98 8,487 
			 1998–99 5,269 
			 1999–2000 8,506 
			 2000–01 9,185 
			 2001–02 11,873 
			 2002–03 54,923 
			 2003–04 28,109 
		
	
	Notes:
	1 The organisations included are: Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust—since 2002, and its predecessors:
	Alexandra Healthcare NHS Trust, Worcester Royal Infirmary NHS Trust, and Kidderminster Healthcare NHS Trust, Worcestershire Partnership NHS Trust—since 2000, and its predecessor:
	Worcestershire Community and Mental Health Services NHS Trust, Hereford and Worcester Ambulance Service NHS Trust, South Worcestershire PCT, Redditch and Bromsgrove PCT, Wyre Forest PCT.
	2. The figures in the table do not include private finance initiative (PFI) expenditure where PFI costs are revenue expenditure in the books of NHS bodies.
	3. Capital investment will vary between years owing to the investment decisions at individual NHS bodies.
	Source:
	Audited summarisation schedules of relevant NHS trusts 1996–97 to 2003–04.
	Audited summarisation schedules of relevant PCTs 2001–02 to 2003–04.

Dentistry

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the percentage change has been in the number of NHS dentists in south-west London in each year since 1997, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

Rosie Winterton: The table shows the percentage change in the number of general dental service or personal dental service dentists, between adjacent years, in South West London from 1997 to 2004, by parliamentary constituency.
	
		
			 Parliamentary Constituency Name 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Battersea -0.02 0.04 0.02 0.16 -0.11 -0.12 0.04 
			 Carshalton and Wellington 0.09 0.03 -0.03 0.08 0.15 -0.04 0.02 
			 Croydon Central -0.01 0.01 0.02 0.05 -0.01 -0.02 0.06 
			 Croydon North -0.05 -0.02 0.04 -0.07 -0.06 -0.02 0.35 
			 Croydon South 0.05 -0.08 0.03 -0.03 0.06 0.03 0.13 
			 Kingston and Surbiton 0.00 0.06 0.06 -0.02 0.07 0.00 0.02 
			 Mitcham and Morden 0.03 0.03 0.03 -0.03 0.13 -0.03 0.31 
			 Putney 0.12 -0.04 -0.04 0.08 -0.18 0.02 0.06 
			 Richmond Park 0.05 0.02 -0.02 0.05 0.06 -0.08 0.08 
			 Sutton and Cheam 0.13 0.08 -0.05 0.06 0.01 -0.04 -0.02 
			 Tooting 0.03 0.18 -0.03 -0.03 -0.14 -0.05 0.11 
			 Twickenham 0.04 0.02 0.04 -0.02 0.07 0.05 0.00 
			 Wimbledon 0.00 0.06 0.08 0.04 -0.12 0.02 0.10 
		
	
	Source:
	Dental Practice Board

Dentistry

Mark Fisher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS dentists were employed in Stoke-on-Trent in each of the last five years.

Rosie Winterton: The table shows the number of dentists employed in Stoke-on-Trent in each of the last five years.
	
		
			 Stoke-on-Trent Number of dentists 
		
		
			 2000 88 
			 2001 90 
			 2002 88 
			 2003 90 
			 2004 96 
		
	
	The figures are based on the numbers of dentists with open general dental service or personal dental service contracts in the North Stoke Primary Care Trust area and the South Stoke Primary Care Trust area.

Dentistry

Mark Fisher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists have started work full-time for the NHS in Stoke-on-Trent since the inception of the Returning to Dentistry campaign.

Rosie Winterton: Eleven dentists (personal dental service or general dental service) have started working in Stoke-on-Trent since July 2004.

Dentistry

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what percentage of dentists in Kingston and Surbiton stopped taking NHS patients in each year since 1997;
	(2)  what percentage of dentists in London stopped taking NHS patients in each year since 1997, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

Rosie Winterton: The majority of dental practices treat both private and national health service patients under an open" contract with a primary care trust. The Office of Fair Trading report The private dentistry market in the UK", published in March 2003 estimated that out of 11,000 dental practices about 210 are private. The table shows by London constituency the numbers of dentists who stopped doing general or personal dental service work in England and Wales during the year as a percentage of the total number of dentists for the years 1997 to 2004. These figures do not include dentists who moved to other areas and continued to work in the general or personal dental services. The dentists could have ceased doing NHS work for a number of different reasons, for example, retirement or to take a short-term absence, apart from the reason that the dentist only wished to treat private patients. New contractual arrangements, which we are to introduce by April 2006, are intended to make NHS dentistry more attractive to dentists.
	
		Dentistry—percentage not taking patients in London 1997–2004
		
			 Constituency name 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 Barking 3.7 0.0 0.0 3.9 0.0 2.5 1.2 0.0 
			 Battersea 1.2 1.7 1.2 3.0 3.0 2.9 5.8 2.2 
			 Beckenham 2.3 2.4 0.0 1.6 0.8 3.1 1.6 4.7 
			 Bethnal Green and Bow 2.9 1.8 2.9 1.7 0.6 0.6 3.0 1.7 
			 Bexleyheath and Crayford 0.0 0.0 0.0 5.7 4.4 4.2 1.5 2.8 
			 Brent East 2.4 1.6 1.6 3.3 2.3 1.6 1.6 0.0 
			 Brent North 0.6 2.5 3.0 0.6 1.8 1.2 3.1 1.2 
			 Brent South 2.2 2.1 2.2 0.7 2.8 1.4 1.5 1.4 
			 Brentford and Isleworth 1.0 0.5 1.1 5.3 3.4 8.5 1.1 3.8 
			 Bromley and Chislehurst 2.9 3.6 0.7 3.0 1.5 3.1 3.8 4.6 
			 Camberwell and Peckham 2.0 0.0 5.2 3.2 2.1 1.0 4.0 1.0 
			 Carshalton and Wellington 1.0 1.0 2.0 1.0 1.0 2.3 3.3 5.5 
			 Chingford and Woodford Green 1.9 2.9 2.9 1.9 1.0 3.7 1.8 0.9 
			 Chipping Barnet 0.8 1.6 2.4 0.8 2.5 0.0 4.2 0.8 
			 Cities of London and Westminster 3.1 3.8 5.6 3.7 3.4 4.2 2.7 1.2 
			 Croydon Central 4.7 2.1 2.9 1.3 2.1 3.3 1.6 2.5 
			 Croydon North 1.3 6.5 2.0 1.4 3.6 4.3 2.6 0.7 
			 Croydon South 4.4 2.1 8.0 1.1 5.6 2.2 0.0 2.2 
			 Dagenham 0.0 0.0 0.0 5.8 0.0 3.4 3.4 0.0 
			 Dulwich and West Norwood 1.6 5.4 1.7 1.6 3.2 0.0 4.8 3.3 
			 Ealing North 0.7 3.8 3.9 6.4 2.3 4.0 1.6 4.7 
			 Ealing, Acton and Shepherd's Bush 1.4 1.0 1.4 8.1 2.4 6.0 0.5 3.0 
			 Ealing, Southall 2.5 1.6 2.5 4.9 2.2 5.1 0.8 2.1 
			 East Ham 3.4 0.0 6.0 3.3 4.4 1.1 0.0 1.2 
			 Edmonton 2.1 2.1 6.9 2.2 3.4 3.2 1.1 0.0 
			 Eltham 2.0 3.2 2.2 1.1 2.1 2.0 1.1 1.1 
			 Enfield North 1.4 3.6 0.0 2.2 3.1 2.2 2.8 3.7 
			 Enfield, Southgate 0.8 4.2 2.5 1.6 0.8 2.4 3.4 6.3 
			 Erith and Thamesmead 1.2 3.5 2.4 0.0 3.6 3.4 1.2 3.4 
			 Feltham and Heston 1.7 0.8 0.0 0.8 0.8 2.6 0.9 2.5 
			 Finchley and Golders Green 2.4 1.7 5.5 3.6 4.3 4.9 1.7 2.3 
			 Greenwich and Woolwich 0.0 5.0 1.3 6.5 3.8 2.5 0.0 1.2 
			 Hackney North and Stoke Newington 2.1 1.1 2.4 1.1 3.5 1.0 4.4 1.1 
			 Hackney South and Shoreditch 0.0 4.3 2.6 3.0 3.7 1.5 4.5 3.0 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 0.4 1.3 1.8 4.7 2.7 6.6 2.7 5.5 
			 Hampstead and Highgate 3.8 0.7 3.3 2.2 3.9 5.5 4.0 3.9 
			 Harrow East 1.3 1.8 3.3 2.6 1.3 1.9 0.6 0.6 
			 Harrow West 0.8 1.7 0.8 0.0 3.3 2.3 2.5 2.4 
			 Hayes and Harlington 2.1 0.0 2.3 1.0 4.4 4.3 0.0 2.0 
			 Hendon 1.2 2.4 3.0 0.6 2.5 3.6 2.4 1.8 
			 Holborn and St. Pancras 3.0 5.6 2.6 3.5 4.9 5.6 2.3 2.7 
			 Hornchurch 0.0 1.3 1.3 0.0 4.4 1.3 2.5 3.8 
			 Hornsey and Wood Green 0.8 2.6 0.8 3.0 5.3 2.6 1.3 2.6 
			 llford North 0.8 1.7 0.8 1.7 1.8 3.5 1.7 2.5 
			 llford South 0.6 1.2 1.3 2.5 2.7 4.6 1.3 2.0 
			 Islington North 2.1 2.2 0.0 4.0 1.5 2.5 1.5 2.2 
			 Islington South and Finsbury 2.3 2.8 2.8 2.9 4.5 5.8 2.9 4.2 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 0.0 4.8 5.1 2.1 1.4 5.3 5.3 0.0 
			 Kingston and Surbiton 0.0 0.8 3.3 6.0 5.4 3.5 2.4 2.4 
			 Lewisham East 3.4 1.0 1.3 4.4 1.2 0.0 3.4 2.1 
			 Lewisham West 0.0 2.5 3.9 1.2 3.3 6.5 4.5 0.6 
			 Lewisham, Deptford 1.8 0.9 3.6 2.9 5.6 2.8 0.0 1.8 
			 Leyton and Wanstead 1.4 1.5 3.1 1.6 3.0 0.0 1.4 1.4 
			 Mitcham and Morden 2.3 2.3 0.0 4.7 3.3 2.5 4.8 1.2 
			 North Southwark and Bermondsey 3.2 3.3 0.8 0.7 5.8 4.1 2.4 0.0 
			 Old Bexley and Sidcup 6.0 1.9 4.1 1.0 3.9 3.0 0.9 3.1 
			 Orpington 5.2 2.0 0.0 3.0 3.0 2.0 3.0 2.0 
			 Poplar and Canning Town 2.7 4.8 0.9 2.8 3.6 4.9 0.9 3.0 
			 Putney 1.8 1.2 3.7 4.3 1.9 5.2 6.5 3.7 
			 Regent's Park and North Kensington 1.4 3.3 0.6 0.7 2.8 0.0 1.9 0.0 
			 Richmond Park 2.1 1.4 2.7 3.5 3.5 1.3 4.1 1.4 
			 Romford 1.2 0.0 6.7 2.5 3.8 5.1 3.8 3.9 
			 Ruislip-Northwood 3.3 0.9 3.4 0.8 5.9 1.8 4.2 1.6 
			 Streatham 1.6 2.9 2.9 3.2 2.3 3.9 2.7 2.8 
			 Sutton and Cheam 0.0 2.3 1.5 3.2 3.0 5.3 3.9 4.4 
			 Tooting 2.3 5.3 1.5 2.9 4.1 4.5 2.8 2.7 
			 Tottenham 3.9 2.0 1.0 3.0 1.9 4.0 2.9 4.0 
			 Twickenham 2.7 2.7 5.3 2.7 5.5 2.7 1.8 4.4 
			 Upminster 1.6 1.7 3.5 5.2 1.5 3.4 1.6 1.7 
			 Uxbridge 3.8 5.8 4.0 1.3 5.5 0.0 2.6 1.2 
			 Vauxhall 5.3 4.3 8.9 1.8 3.1 3.7 1.2 3.7 
			 Walthamstow 3.0 4.1 0.0 0.0 3.2 3.2 3.2 0.0 
			 West Ham 3.3 2.1 1.3 0.7 2.1 2.1 2.7 4.1 
			 Wimbledon 2.5 4.0 1.6 5.0 0.0 6.9 2.6 0.0 
		
	
	Source:
	Dental Practice Board

Dentistry

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time to become a patient of an NHS dentist in south-west London was in each year since 1997, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Departmental Catering

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many departmental (a) canteens and (b) bars there are; and how much has been spent on the (i) running, (ii) staffing and (iii) supply costs of each in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The Department has three staff restaurants operated by its catering contractor under a nil subsidy arrangement. The Department makes no direct financial contribution to the operation of these facilities.
	The Department does not operate any bars.

Departmental Staff

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the staffing levels in his Department's Tobacco Control Division were on (a) 31 May 1997, (b) 30 June 2001 and (c) 1 January 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Detailed historical information at the level requested is not held. The number of staff in the Department's tobacco programme on 1 January 2005 was five. A further member of staff joined on 5 January. This number does not include those posts working on tobacco policy elsewhere in the Department, for example working on the media campaign in the communications division, along with other duties.

Food Supplements Regulations

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment his Department has made of which supplements will be (a) banned and (b) reformulated under the food supplements regulations;
	(2)  what assessment his Department has made of the public health consequences of (a) prohibiting certain (i)vitamins and (ii) minerals and (b) reducing the potency of certain supplements with particular reference to (A) antioxidants, (B) pre-natal nutrients and (C)high-dose vitamin C, under the food supplements directive;
	(3)  whether the list of approved supplements set out in annexes 1 and 2 of the Food Supplements Directive 2003 will be further reduced before the implementing regulations come into force;
	(4)  what information has been provided to the public to ensure that they are fully aware of (a) which supplements are to be (i) prohibited and (ii) reformulated, (b) the reasons for the prohibitions and reformulations and (c) what alternative supplements they may take to achieve comparable results;
	(5)  what assessment has been made of the likely economic impact of the food supplements regulations on food supplement (a) producers and (b) retailers in the UK;
	(6)  if the Department will review the economic impact of the food supplements regulations once they have come into effect.

Melanie Johnson: Information on the dossiers for ingredients not listed in the food supplements directive (FSD), and which can continue to be used in supplements on sale in the United Kingdom after 1 August, will be available on the European Food Safety Authority and Food Standards Agency (FSA) websites. The FSA will, in addition, provide information on the ingredients listed in the FSD and on the scope of the directive. It is the responsibility of food supplements manufacturers to ensure that the products on sale after 1 August meet the requirements of the FSD and to decide what information is available to consumers on the products on sale. Manufacturers have had three years in which to produce dossiers.
	No assessment has been made by the FSA of which supplements will be banned or reformulated under the FSD. The number of supplements which will be banned or need to be reformulated under the FSD will be dependent on the number of dossiers submitted by industry for assessment by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Where a dossier for a particular ingredient has been submitted to either the UK or another European Union member state then that ingredient will be able to continue to be used in food supplements until December 2009 pending an opinion from EFSA on its use beyond 2009.
	An assessment of the economic impact of the Food Supplement Regulations was made in the Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) which accompanied the regulations. Article 4(8) of the FSD states that, no later than 12 July 2007, the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and the Council a report on whether the directive should be amended to increase its scope to include other nutrients as well as vitamins and minerals. This will also include a proposal for any amendments to the directive that the Commission deems necessary. The FSA will provide any information requested from member states by the Commission to inform this report.
	The directive does not at present set limits for the levels of vitamins, which can be used in food supplements. High doses of vitamins, which are listed in annex one of the directive, can continue to be used after 1 August when the directive comes into effect.
	The list of supplements in annexes 1 and 2 of the FSD has not been altered since the directive was agreed in July 2002. There is no reason to assume the list would be reduced unless new evidence came to light which raised questions regarding the safety of the vitamins and minerals listed.

General Medical Services Contract

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the new GMS contract on the operation of community hospitals in the out-of-hours period.

John Hutton: Where community hospitals are part of out-of-hours services, primary care trusts and providers must ensure that adequate medical cover is provided to meet patients' unscheduled need, through providing appropriate terms and conditions for staff.

General Practitioners

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of pay variations in the remuneration of general practitioners working in different community hospitals in England.

John Hutton: The Government asked the NHS Confederation to consider this issue, as part of a study into the terms and conditions of non-consultant career grade doctors, and to make recommendations. The NHS Confederation have identified that there is a range of contractual mechanisms that national health service commissioners can use more flexibly to ensure that general practitioners working in community hospitals are remunerated appropriately. The Government has welcomed these observations and accepted the recommendation that these are matters for local negotiation.

General Practitioners

Colin Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect of targets for general practitioner appointments on the new appointment systems general practitioner practices are adopting.

Stephen Ladyman: holding answer 3 February 2005
	The Department routinely monitors the performance of the national health service against the NHS Plan target for primary care access. This process has identified that some practices are not allowing patients to book appointments more than one or two days ahead. This is not consistent with delivery of a patient-focused service and the Department is working with strategic health authorities to support primary care trusts and general practice in removing such restrictions on patient choice.

Glaucoma

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been diagnosed with glaucoma in each year since 1989, broken down by age.

Stephen Ladyman: The vast majority of patients with glaucoma are treated as outpatients. Although aggregate outpatient data has been collected for sometime now, the central collection of detailed clinical information has not been mandated. However, processes are being put in place to enable the Department to collect and publish this information in the future.
	Patients diagnosed with glaucoma and treated as inpatients from 1995–96—2003–04 in national health service hospitals in England are shown in the following table. Data is not available on a comparable basis prior to 1995–96.
	
		
			  Hospital in-patient admissions by age 
			  0 to 16 17 to 64 65 and over Not known 
		
		
			 1995–96 881 7,115 17,904 20 
			 1996–97 917 6,927 16,572 23 
			 1997–98 954 6,491 15,036 17 
			 1998–99 1,079 6,003 12,634 22 
			 1999–2000 1,128 5,277 10,928 14 
			 2000–01 1,225 4,899 9,837 6 
			 2001–02 1,251 4,849 9,304 8 
			 2002–03 1,293 4,734 8,585 8 
			 2003–04 1,132 4,433 8,397 7 
		
	
	Admissions do not represent the total number of in-patients, as an individual may have more than one admission within the year. Figures are grossed for both coverage and missing/invalid clinical data, except for 2002–03 and 2003–04, which are not yet adjusted.

Neck of Femur Fractures

Angela Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the mortality rate was of people admitted to hospital with fractured neck of femur in each year from 1997–98 to 2003–04, broken down by age group;
	(2)  what the average wait between admission and surgery was for people admitted to hospital for fractured neck of femur in each year from 1997–98 to 2003–04;
	(3)  how many people over the age of 60 years were admitted to hospital in England with fractured neck of femur in each year from 1997–98 to 2003–04.

John Hutton: holding answer 4 February 2005
	Information on the median wait between admission and surgery and the number of people over the age of 60 years admitted to hospital for fractured neck of femur is given in the table. Data on the mortality rate of people admitted to hospital for fractured neck of femur are not collected centrally.
	
		Count of admissions by age group and median pre-operative duration for fractured neck of femur—NHS hospitals, England 1997–98 to 2003–04
		
			61+ years Median pre-operative duration following admission (days) 
		
		
			 1997–98 35,763 1 
			 1998–99 37,769 1 
			 1999–2000 38,905 1 
			 2000–01 37,408 1 
			 2001–02 37,903 1 
			 2002–03 41,530 1 
			 2003–04 41,704 1 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Finished in-year admissions—A finished in-year admission is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider, excluding admissions beginning before 1 April at the start of the data year.
	Please note that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.
	2.Diagnosis (primary diagnosis)—The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 14 (7 prior to 2002–03) diagnosis fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital.
	3.Ungrossed data—Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).
	Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health.

In-house Magazines

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on the production of in-house magazines in the Department in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The Department produces one in-house magazine for its staff, Link. Costs for the present contractor for each calendar year from 1999 are shown in the table. Costs prior to August 1998 can be provided only at disproportionate cost, so 1998 figures are excluded.
	
		£
		
			  Cost 
		
		
			 1999 125,411 
			 2000 141,838 
			 2001 133,899 
			 2002 155,687 
			 2003 146,489 
			 2004 142,698

Insulin

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure that the patient information leaflet for human insulin includes reference to the full range of side effects experienced by those taking human insulin, as reported to the Committee on Safety of Medicines.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 31 January 2005
	The current authorised product information provides details on both common and less common side effects associated with human insulin. The most common adverse drug reactions reported are decreases or increases in blood sugar, headache, injection site reaction and pruritis (itching). Less common adverse drug reactions include allergic reactions, muscle pain, depression, rash, diarrhoea, fatigue, palpitations and vomiting.
	Not all suspected adverse drug reactions reported to the Committee on Safety of Medicines through the yellow card scheme are listed in the product information for prescribers (the summary of product characteristics) and patients (patient information leaflet). A report of a suspected adverse drug reaction does not necessarily mean that it was caused by the drug. Reports of suspected adverse reactions are evaluated as they are received and are added to the product information if there is sufficient evidence to suggest that they are at least possibly associated with the medicine.
	The product information for Lantus (insulin glargine) was recently updated to warn about the possibility of interactions with treatments for schizophrenia and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) following review of spontaneous reports.

Kidney Disease

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of the relationship between high blood pressure and kidney disease.

Rosie Winterton: There is good research evidence to show that blood pressure control can slow the decline in kidney function in people in the early stages of chronic kidney disease. In addition, high blood pressure may be a sign of undetected chronic kidney disease.
	The national service frameworks for renal services, Part two (published 3 February), and for coronary heart disease, and National Institute Clinical Excellence clinical guidelines on the management of hypertension, recognise the link between high blood pressure and kidney disease and recommend that people with raised blood pressure should have their kidney function measured routinely.

Mental Health (Young People)

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the Government intend to reduce the number of young people waiting over 26 weeks to see child and adolescent mental health service staff.

Stephen Ladyman: The Government remain committed to further improve access to child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) and the reduction of waiting times. The Department is investing an additional £300 million in CAMHS during the period from 2003–04 to 2005–06. This additional funding, together with the assistance available from CAMHS regional development workers, will help to reduce the waiting time for CAMHS.
	In line with all other specialities, the Government are reducing waiting times for the first outpatient appointment with a consultant specialising in child and adolescent psychiatry following a general practitioner referral. By the end of 2005, the maximum wait will have been cut from 17 weeks, to 13 weeks.
	The children's national service framework, published September in 2004, sets out the standards that need to be adopted by commissioners and providers of CAMHS. Adoption of these standards will ensure that all children and young people have access to mental health problems will have access to timely, integrated and high quality mental health services.

Mobility Aids

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are taken to ensure that walking sticks, crutches and similar aids are returned to the NHS by patients once they are no longer needed.

Stephen Ladyman: It is a local decision about whether trusts want national health service patients to return walking sticks, crutches or similar aids. How they achieve that is for local determination.

MRI Scans

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received on the recent contract with Alliance Medical to provide the NHS with mobile MRI scanning units; what assessment he has made of the impact of the contract on NHS (a) recruitment and (b) retention of (i) radiographers and (ii) other diagnostic staff; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: holding answer 3 February 2005
	Written representation has been received from the Society of Radiographers, the British Medical Association, right hon. and hon. Members and the public. The independent sector will provide additional staff to ease pressure on existing national health service diagnostic teams and the mobile magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning units will ensure that the NHSand patients get early access to this additional diagnostic capacity.

MRI Scans

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) evaluation, (b) monitoring and (c) data collection his Department is undertaking on the implementation and performance of the contract with Alliance Medical for mobile MRI scans; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: holding answer 3 February 2005
	Contract monitoring is carried out regularly with Alliance Medical and a benchmarking audit of image quality and reports is to be undertaken in 2005. In addition, Alliance Medical figures for November 2004 show that 96 per cent. of respondents rated the service above average or excellent.

MRI Scans

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to put out to tender further contracts for (a) MRI scans, (b) CT scans and (c) other diagnostic procedures; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: holding answer 3 February 2005
	The Department is currently working on plans for phase two of its independent sector procurement programme, which will include additional diagnostic services in order to help the national health service achieve future waiting time targets.

NHS Staff Suspensions

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the cost to the National Health Service of suspensions of medical and dental staff in the latest quarter for which figures are available.

John Hutton: Latest figures to the end of September 2004 show there were a total of 19 suspensions of medical and dental staff and there is a downward trend. The annual cost of these suspensions to the National Health Service is estimated at about £1 million.

NHS Trusts

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS Trusts are taking part in merger talks/proposals.

John Hutton: Since introducing Shifting the Balance of Power, the Department does not collect information centrally on configuration reviews and there is no obligation on the national health service locally to report on any service change they are considering.
	However, any change to trust constitutions that requires an amendment to the Statutory Instrument (Establishment Orders) is sent to the Department for approval by Ministers. The only such change the Department is aware of is the forthcoming merger of mental health trusts in Surrey. In this merger, the Surrey Oaklands NHS Trust, the Surrey Hampshire Borders NHS Trust and the North West Surrey Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust are to be dissolved, and a single trust is to be established in their place, to be called the Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Trust. This will be established from 1 April this year subject to Parliamentary approval.

Paddington Basin Hospital

John Wilkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish in full the outline business case for the Paddington Basin NHS Hospital project.

John Hutton: holding answer 19 January 2005
	Under departmental guidance, national health service trusts are required to make the outline business case (OBC) publicly available no later than one month from its approval.
	In this case, the OBC has not yet been approved.

Parliamentary Questions

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the question tabled by the hon. Member for Ashford on 16 December 2004, reference 206718.

Rosie Winterton: I replied to the hon. Member on 1 February 2005, Official Report, column 887W.

Protection of Vulnerable Adults

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what timetable has been set for the extension of the Protection of Vulnerable Adults scheme to all NHS workers; and what plans are in place to ensure that extension is effective.

John Hutton: Options for extending the protection of vulnerable adults scheme to the national health service are currently under consideration. I will inform the hon. Member of the decision in due course.

Residential Care Costs

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average fee paid by each social services department in England for care for the elderly in a (a) privately owned and (b) local authority-owned residential home was in the latest year for which figures are available.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested is not available centrally.

Retinal Screening

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps he (a) has taken and (b) plans to take to ensure that NHS providers have the maximum choice of suppliers of retinal screening;
	(2)  whether the list of accredited suppliers to the National Retinopathy Screening Programme will be updated via a tender process during 2004.

John Hutton: holding answer 4 February 2005
	National health service providers have a number of suppliers to choose from when selecting suppliers for their retinal screening programme.
	The NHS Purchasing and Supply agency are in discussions with staff from the National Retinopathy Screening Programme and the National Programme for information technology in order to decide on the benefits of undertaking a tender exercise for software for this programme in the light of the recent developments in this project.

Rural Areas

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what initiatives his Department has introduced since 2001 to support health services in rural areas.

John Hutton: The Government's modernisation of the national health service, underpinned by a sustained investment programme, is delivering more staff, faster treatment, more hospitals, a new focus on quality and, crucially, more choice for patients. Coupled with an increase in the NHS budget from £43.9 billion in 2000–01 to £69 billion in 2004–05 has come an increased devolution of power and responsibility to the front line NHS: 80 per cent. of the NHS budget in England is now devolved to local primary care trusts (PCTs), and central targets have been dramatically reduced to give the local NHS in rural and urban areas alike the headroom to address local priorities.
	The Government have therefore given PCTs in rural areas the resources and the authority to make a difference locally and address rural needs. At the national level the Department is committed to rural proofing policies so that they take into account the needs of people living in rural areas. To further support the rural proofing agenda, last year the Government incorporated the rural proofing checklist within the regulatory impact assessment framework, thus ensuring that new policies are screened for their impact on rural communities.
	The Department also supports rural health initiatives through grants to the voluntary sector. The Department has funded the Institute of Rural Health since 2001. The Institute is currently working on two projects (i) the rural health forum project which provides a regular interface between Government Departments and health providers at national, regional and local levels, and (ii)a rural proofing toolkit which will help PCTs and policy makers identify the health needs of residents in rural areas and help incorporate those needs into policy making at a strategic level.
	The Department has also taken specific actions to help patients living with stress and mental health problems in rural areas. The National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE) in implementing the national suicide prevention strategy is providing specific support for farmers and their families. We are also part funding a network of support for people in rural communities who are suffering from stress.

Saneline

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received about his Department's support for Saneline.

Ms Winterton: As of 18 January 2005, the Department has received 14 written representations concerning the Department's two-year contract with Saneline which will end on 31 March 2005.

Saneline

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to increase his Department's funding for Saneline in 2005–06; and if he will make a statement.

Ms Winterton: The Department has provided some £5 million of funding, over three years, for mental health helplines provided by voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations. This funding can be accessed by VCS organisations via the mental health helplines investment framework that has been commissioned to support providers of mental health helplines in developing capacity; enabling 24 hour access, and to increase the quality of service provision through accredited training and accreditation against quality standards.
	The investment framework will be launched by the Department next month and applications for funding will be considered by a steering group represented by a range of mental health helpline providers, including Saneline.
	In common with other voluntary and community sector organisations, Saneline will be eligible to submit an application for funding from the Department's section 64 scheme of grants for 2005–06.

Saneline

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the contribution of Saneline to the provision of support and advice to mentally ill people and their families; what assessment he has made of the impact of any reduction in Saneline's activities as a result of funding shortfall; and if he will make a statement.

Ms Winterton: Saneline provides information, advice and emotional support for people with mental health problems and responds to around 50,000 callers per year. Saneline operates a virtual network with calls routed to whichever site has capacity. At present, Saneline is operating two of its three centres without a reduction in capacity. Saneline refers many of its callers to a range of other helpline providers who, jointly, take a significant number of mental health calls.
	There are around 60 other mental health helpline providers within the voluntary and community sector that provide an excellent service and, between them, handle significant number of calls on mental health issues. Of these, Samaritans receive in excess of 4.8 million contacts a year, of which 2.5 million are by telephone and the majority of these are from people with mental health problems. The organisation Rethink's helplines handle approximately 80,000 calls per year. The majority of these helpline providers, including SANE, Samaritans, Rethink and Mind, are members of the Department's mental health helplines partnership, which aims to achieve greater consistency, quality and choice for people who use members' helpline services.
	In the statutory sector, NHS Direct provides a 24hour, seven days a week service and its fully-trained staff respond to about 325,000 calls per year from people with mental health issues. NHS Direct works in close partnership with the member organisations of the mental health helplines partnership, including Saneline.
	The Department's contract with Saneline was for two years and it ends on 31 March 2005. The total contract value was £2 million. Part of the contract payment was delayed during discussions on contractual detail with Saneline and when invoices were delayed as a result. Noformal assessment of the impact of any potential reduction in Saneline's activities has been made. Saneline, like other voluntary and community sector organisations in health and social care, can apply for further funding.

Saneline

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact of Saneline's planned closure of its Macclesfield office on the well-being of mentally ill people and their families seeking support and advice in the area for which it provides coverage.

Ms Winterton: No formal assessment of the impact of any potential reduction in Saneline's activities has been made. However, we are aware that Saneline operates a virtual network and calls are routed to whichever one of its centres has capacity. This means that although Saneline is currently operating only two of three centres, callers from Macclesfield can continue to access the service.
	In addition to the services offered by Saneline, there is also a diverse range of mental health helplines provided by the statutory and voluntary and community sectors, including NHS Direct, which provide easily accessible services for people with mental health problems, their carers and families—including people in the Macclesfield area who are seeking support and advice.

Secure Units

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the medium secure units for peoplewith dangerous and severe personality disorders operating in England; and how many inmates have escaped or absconded from each in each of the last fiveyears.

Rosie Winterton: The Arnold Lodge in Leicester is the only medium secure unit that currently takes patients with a dangerous and severe personality disorder (DSPD). The unit has a personality disorder unit (PDU) that has 12 beds. Of these, five are available for patients with a diagnosis of DSPD.
	From the DSPD beds, no patients have absconded. From the personality disorder beds, two patients have failed to return from leave.
	When a decision is taken to send a patient on leave, a detailed risk assessment is carried out beforehand. This details the potential risks involved should a patient abscond and a plan is in place to deal with these risks should it happen.
	Once a patient is known to have absconded, the local police are informed and any people who from the risk assessment have been identified as being vulnerable. On call arrangements are put in place and local, regional and national briefing if required takes place.
	In both the cases of absconcion from the PD unit at Arnold Lodge, both patients were returned to the unit within five to six hours. In the first case, the patient returned to the unit himself, in the second case, the patient missed a train back and presented to a police station and asked to be returned to Arnold Lodge.

Specialist Nurses

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what budget is allocated for training and development for a specialist nurse post.

John Hutton: The training and development of nurses to fit them to hold specialist posts is a matter for employers locally. The cost of training may vary according to specialism and the type of training or development involved and will be identified by employers in conjunction with educational commissioners and higher education institutions. There is no separate central budget.

Stem Cells

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment has been made of the safety of the medium used to preserve embryonic stem cells.

Rosie Winterton: To date, most human embryonic stem cell lines have been cultured for laboratory research using nutritional support from animal cells. It is therefore not surprising that a recent United States study has demonstrated that many of the human embryonic stem cell lines, which can be used in federally-funded research in the US, are contaminated with a molecule from animal cells. As with any contaminated therapeutic product, these cells could never be used for clinical applications.
	Unlike the situation in the US, United Kingdom legislation permits the generation of new embryonic stem cell lines. UK researchers are well aware of the problem of animal contamination and are actively working on developing new embryonic stem cell lines, which have been grown without using animal products.

Welsh Language Scheme

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department's Welsh language scheme was approved by the Welsh Language Board; and on what date the scheme was implemented.

Rosie Winterton: The Department does not have a Welsh language scheme.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Adviser Discretion Fund

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of Jobcentre Plus clients have received grants from the Adviser Discretion Fund, broken down by benefit received.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is not available as Adviser Discretion Fund data are collected on an award, not customer, basis.
	It is not possible to equate the number of awards made with the number of customers who have received one as a Jobcentre Plus customer may access the Adviser Discretion Fund on more than one occasion.

Benefit Payments

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Workand Pensions what his Department's policy is regarding the payment of benefits to claimants of working age who fail to supply account details to his Department.

Chris Pond: Direct Payment into an account is the normal method of payment for benefits and pensions and will be the best option for the overwhelming majority of our customers, giving them a more modern and reliable method of payment, with greater choice about where and when they collect their money. Using a bank account also helps jobseekers show employers that they are job ready.
	The Department has always recognised that some customers will be unable to be paid in this way and the cheque payment was developed for the small minority of customers who cannot manage Direct Payment.
	We are continuing to contact existing customers to invite them to provide account details. However at the end of this process customers, including those of working age, who have not provided account details, will be paid by cheque if possible after we have verified their address and confirmed there is no doubt about ongoing entitlement.

Benefit Payments

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people claimed unemployment benefit in each constituency in Wales for the latest period in which figures are available.

Chris Pond: The information is in the table.
	
		JSA caseloads in each parliamentary constituency in Wales: August 2004
		
			 Parliamentary constituency All Contribution-based only Income-based Credits only 
		
		
			 Aberavon 1,000 (30)200 700 (30)100 
			 Alyn and Deeside 1,000 (30)100 700 (30)100 
			 Blaenau Gwent 1,400 (30)300 1,000 (30)100 
			 Brecon and Radnorshire 600 (30)100 (30)400 (30)100 
			 Bridgend 800 (30)200 600 (31)— 
			 Caernarfon 700 (30)100 500 (30)100 
			 Caerphilly 1,700 (30)300 1,400 (30)100 
			 Cardiff Central 1,200 (30)200 900 (30)100 
			 Cardiff North 600 (30)200 (30)300 (30)100 
			 Cardiff South and Penarth 1,600 (30)200 1,300 (30)100 
			 Cardiff West 1,400 (30)100 1,100 (30)200 
			 Carmarthen East and Dinefwr 600 (30)100 (30)400 (30)100 
			 Carmarthen West and South  Pembrokeshire 800 (30)100 600 (30)100 
			 Ceredigion 1,000 (30)100 800 (30)100 
			 Clwyd South 800 (30)100 600 (30)100 
			 Clwyd West (30)400 (30)100 (30)300 (31)— 
			 Conwy 900 (30)100 600 (30)100 
			 Cynon Valley 1,000 (30)200 800 (31)— 
			 Delyn 900 (30)200 600 (30)100 
			 Gower 700 (30)200 500 (31)— 
			 Islwyn 900 (30)200 700 (30)100 
			 Llanelli 800 (30)100 600 (30)100 
			 Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (30)300 (30)100 (30)100 (30)100 
			 Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney 1,300 (30)100 1,100 (30)100 
			 Monmouth 700 (30)100 500 (30)100 
			 Montgomeryshire (30)400 (30)100 (30)200 (31)— 
			 Neath 1,200 (30)200 900 (30)100 
			 Newport East 1,100 (30)200 800 (30)100 
			 Newport West 1,400 (30)200 1,100 (30)100 
			 Ogmore 800 (30)200 600 (31)— 
			 Pontypridd 1,200 (30)300 800 (30)100 
			 Preseli Pembrokeshire 1,200 (30)100 800 (30)200 
			 Rhondda 1,100 (30)100 800 (30)100 
			 Swansea East 1,600 (30)200 1,200 (30)200 
			 Swansea West 1,400 (30)100 1,200 (30)100 
			 Torfaen 800 (30)100 700 (30)100 
			 Vale of Clwyd 900 (30)100 700 (30)100 
			 Vale of Glamorgan 1,400 (30)200 900 (30)200 
			 Wrexham 800 (30)100 600 (30)100 
			 Ynys Mon 1,300 (30)200 1,000 (30)100 
		
	
	(30)Numbers are based on very few sample cases and are subject to a high degree of sampling variation. These figures should be used as a guide to the current situation only.
	(31)Nil or negligible.
	Notes:
	1.Figures are rounded to the nearest 100.
	2.Totals may not sum due to rounding.
	3.The data refers to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple.
	4.Income-based JSA figures include claimants who would also be entitled to the contributory element.
	Source:
	Information Directorate, 5 per cent. samples

Benefit Payments

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State forWork and Pensions what evidence his Department has relied upon to conclude that over 90 per cent. of pension and benefit claimants in the UK are satisfied with direct payment; and what customer feedback was sought in Scotland to determine preferences on payment methods.

Chris Pond: DWP published independent research on customers' experience of Direct Payment on 24 September 2004 . Among the findings was that 93 per cent. of those surveyed were happy with the process of having payments made into an account. A copy of the research report is in the Library.
	The research covered the views and experiences of a representative group of customers across the whole of Great Britain, including Scotland.
	Note:
	DWP published independent research on customers' experience of Direct Payment on 24 September 2004 refers to: In-house Report 150—Customer experience of Direct Payment".

Benefit Payments

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimated saving will result from the switch of payments of pensions from payment books to direct payments; and what estimated reduction in the level of fraud will result from the phasing out of payment books.

Chris Pond: Paying people by order book costs the taxpayer a significant amount of money. The move to Direct Payment provides a modern, secure and efficient system and will reduce administrative costs. Cutting unnecessary expenditure on administrative costs releases money for other priorities.
	Overall, significant savings to DWP are expected to accrue from both a reduction in administration costs of around £440 million per annum and a reduction in fraud of around £50 million per annum—against this there will be some additional costs for the Post Office card account; the precise costs will depend on customer choice and how many Post Office card accounts are opened.
	With regard to the level of fraud, about 100 pensioners a week had their order books stolen. This risk has been steadily reducing as pensioners and other customers move to Direct Payment.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the Health and Safety Commission's recommendations regarding gas safety in relation to (a) the introduction of a levy on gas suppliers to fund a publicity campaign about the dangers of carbon monoxide gas and (b) requiring emergency service providers to provide suitably trained and equipped operatives to perform the flue gas analysis are due to be implemented; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: Agreement has been reached with the Energy Retail Association (which represents the top six gas suppliers) to fund voluntarily a national gas safety strategy to include publicity about the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.
	The Gas Emergency Service Provider (Transco) is currently piloting the use of Flue Gas Analysers to trace CO. The pilot follows research into the use of the device, which was jointly funded by Government and the industry. A decision to implement this recommendation must take account of the results of that pilot, and also considerations such as effectiveness, costs, benefits and practical viability.

Carers

Mark Fisher: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many carers in Stoke-on-Trent are in receipt of both the carer's premium and the basic state pension.

Malcolm Wicks: At 31 August 2004, the most recent date for which figures are available, approximately 500 recipients of pension credit in Stoke-on-Trent, who were in receipt of the extra amount payable to carers, were also in receipt of basic state pension.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre, Department for Work and Pensions
	Note:
	The figure, rounded up to the nearest hundred, is based on a 5 per cent. sample and is subject to a high degree of sampling variation. It should be used as a guide only.

Child Support Agency

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the current time scale for handling new applications for child support.

Chris Pond: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Miss Anne McIntosh, dated 7 February 2005
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the current timescale for handling new applications for child support.
	As I have previously indicated to the Work and Pensions Select Committee on 17 November 2004, the average time for handling a case, up to the stage where the maintenance assessment is calculated, is currently between 15 to 22 weeks.

Child Support Agency

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of whether the Child Support Agency has sufficient clerical resources to deal with the backlog of cases transferred from the old to the new systems.

Chris Pond: The staffing requirements of the Child Support Agency form part of the Spending Review planning process. We will take into account the agency's current and anticipated case load when deciding on the staffing levels that will be allocated to it up to 31 March 2008.
	On 26 January 2004, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, announced that we will protect front-line resources by ensuring no major reduction in frontline Child Support Agency staff numbers until the new computer system is working effectively.
	We will make a decision on the transfer of old scheme cases once we are sure that the new scheme is working well and its IT is robust.

Child Support Agency

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases are being dealt with by the Child Support Agency at the Falkirk Centre; how many of these cases are being dealt with under the new system; and how many old scheme cases remain on the old computer system.

Chris Pond: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Mrs. Annabelle Ewing, dated 7 February 2005
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many cases are being dealt with by the Child Support Agency at the Falkirk Centre; hew many of these cases are being dealt with under the new legislation; and how many old scheme cases remain on the old computer system.
	I am able to tell you that the number of cases within the Scotland and North Eastern business unit, based in Falkirk, is over 235,000. Of these cases over 102,000 have been registered on the new computer system; approximately 61,000 of these cases are being dealt with under the new legislation and 41,000 under the old legislation. In addition around 133,000 are currently old scheme cases on the old computer system.

Civil Service Salaries

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average annual increase in gross salary was for the year 2003–04 for (a) staff below the Senior Civil Service and (b) the Senior Civil Service in his Department.

Maria Eagle: The average annual increase in gross salary in DWP for the year 2003–04 was 5 per cent. for staff in grades below the Senior Civil Service, and 2.65 per cent. for staff in the Senior Civil Service.
	Notes:
	1.Data source: DWP Dataview" for September 2003 and September 2004 extracted from FAMIS and Rebus payroll systems. 2.The figures represent all staff in DWP, including those in the corporate centre, Jobcentre Plus, The Pension Service, Child Support Agency, and the Disability and Carer Service. 3.The figures are based on basic full-time, not pro-rated for any working patterns and exclude allowances, overtime, bonuses and employer's national insurance and superannuation liabilities. 4.The percentage growth has been calculated by dividing the increases in mean salaries into the September 2003 mean salaries.

Contract Awards

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many contracts in his Department have been granted to (a) EDS, (b) Fujitsu and (c) jointly in each of the last two years; whether they were open to competition; for what they were granted; for how much; over what period of time; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The Department for Work and Pensions continues to award business to EDS under its Accord and ITPA PFI contracts, both of which were subject to competition and were signed in 1999 and 1998 respectively.
	During the last two years business has been awarded to:
	EDS:
	Pension Credit Front End (awarded under Accord) to a total value of £41.8 million, for the period 1 February 2003 to 31 March 2006.
	Fujitsu:
	Application Hosting and Associated Operational—the initial component of this being an Enterprise Resource Planning system. The contract was awarded following a competition which was advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union and has an estimated value of £27 million over five years.
	Advisory Services to Fujitsu (under Accord) to a value of £0.37 million, of which £0.177 million during 2003 and £0.194 million in 2004.
	Real Time Pensions Forecasting design and development contract awarded to Fujitsu following a competition under the Accord framework. The contract runs from December 2003 to September 2004 and has an estimated value of £4.654 million. An application maintenance contract for this system has also been awarded to Fujitsu running from September 2004 until March 2006 with an estimated value of £0.592 million.
	No new contracts have been awarded jointly between EDS and Fujitsu within the last two years.

Council Tax Benefit

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners were in receipt of council tax benefit in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Great Britain in (i) each year from 1997–98 to 2004–05 and (ii) each of the last 12 months; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the council tax benefit take-up campaign launched by his Department and the Local Government Association in 2004.

Chris Pond: The information is not available in the format requested; the available information is in the following table.
	
		Council tax benefit beneficiaries aged 60 and over in Great Britain, England, Wales and Scotland: May 1997 to 2003
		
			 May England Wales Scotland Great Britain 
		
		
			 1997 2,714,000 156,000 358,000 3,229,000 
			 1998 2,639,000 161,000 369,000 3,169,000 
			 1999 2,560,000 154,000 361,000 3,075,000 
			 2000 2,429,000 156,000 332,000 2,917,000 
			 2001 2,397,000 157,000 336,000 2,891,000 
			 2002 2,339,000 155,000 340,000 2,834,000 
			 2003 2,337,000 154,000 324,000 2,815,000 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand and are subject to a degree of sampling variation.
	2.Totals may not sum due to rounding.
	3.Council tax benefit figures exclude second adult rebates.
	4.Beneficiaries" are all claimants and partners aged 60 or over.
	Source:
	Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System, Annual 1 per cent. sample.
	Research was commissioned to establish the general levels of awareness of council tax benefit and to identify the effect of the publicity campaign. The research was conducted at both pre and post stages of the publicity activity. Overall, the research suggested that this activity had a positive effect in raising levels of awareness among our primary target audience of pensioners. Those respondents aged 65 plus were more likely than other age groups to have seen or heard something about paying less council tax, and this increased from 19 per cent. at the pre-publicity stage to 29 per cent. at the post-publicity stage.
	In a recent survey, over 90 per cent. of authorities that responded said that they had introduced initiatives that overlapped with, or were as a result of, the council tax benefit campaign. And around two thirds of authorities said that this had resulted in an overall increase in case load.

Departmental Expenditure

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his latest estimate is of unallocated departmental spending in (a) 2005–06, (b) 2006–07, and (c) 2007–08; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 2 February 2005, Official Report, column 910W.

Freedom of Information

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what categories of information are available under Freedom of Information legislation that have not been provided in written parliamentary answers by his Department in the last three years.

Maria Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Constitutional Affairs on 24 January 2005, Official Report, column 140W.

Health and Safety

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much the Health and Safety Commission and Executive spent on inspecting local authorities in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), is the body through which the Health and Safety Commission's (HSC) delivers its enforcement responsibilities. For 2003–04, which is the most recent year for which figures are available, HSE spent 1 £0.9 million on inspecting local authorities; and £1.1 million on other regulatory activities targeted at enforcing and improving health and safety standards in local authorities.
	1 Expenditure rounded to the nearest 100,000

Incapacity Benefit/Disability Living Allowance

Ronnie Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Blyth Valley are claiming (a) disability living allowance and (b) incapacity benefit.

Maria Eagle: As at 31 August 2004 there were 6,100 people claiming incapacity benefits and 5,000 people in receipt of disability living allowance in the Blyth Valley parliamentary constituency.
	Notes:
	1.Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred. 2.Incapacity benefits includes incapacity benefit, severe disability allowance, and incapacity benefit credits-only cases.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre, 5 per cent. data.

Incapacity Benefit/Disability Living Allowance

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the reasons for the growth in the number of credits-only incapacity benefit recipients; and if he will commission research into this area.

Maria Eagle: The main reason for the growth in the number of incapacity benefit credits-only claimants is that new claims continue to exceed off flows.
	The Department is commissioning research into the routes onto incapacity benefit which will include credits-only customers.

Incapacity Benefit/Disability Living Allowance

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the overall level of expenditure was on (a) incapacity benefit and (b) severe disablement allowance in each year from 1997–98 to 2005–06, at current prices.

Maria Eagle: The information is in the tables.
	
		£ million (nominal terms)
		
			  Incapacity benefit Severe disablement allowance 
		
		
			 1997–98 7,412 999 
			 1998–99 7,251 984 
			 1999–2000 6,790 1,006 
			 2000–01 6,766 1,014 
			 2001–02 6,749 1,040 
			 2002–03 6,758 958 
			 2003–04 6,718 932 
			 2004–05 6,746 892 
			 2005–06 6,839 857 
		
	
	
		£ million (Real terms 2004–05 prices)
		
			  Incapacity benefit Severe disablement allowance 
		
		
			 1997–98 8,772 1,182 
			 1998–99 8,340 1,132 
			 1999–2000 7,644 1,133 
			 2000–01 7,530 1,129 
			 2001–02 7,324 1,128 
			 2002–03 7,095 1,005 
			 2003–04 6,861 952 
			 2004–05 6,746 892 
			 2005–06 6,670 836

Independent Living Fund

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate his Department has made of the cost of removing the means test from the Independent Living Fund; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: No estimate has been made of the cost of removing the means test from the Independent Living Fund. Insufficient data are held to make such an estimate reliable.

In-house Magazines

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much has been spent on the production of in-house magazines in the Department in each year since 1997.

Maria Eagle: The Department for Work and Pensions was formed in June 2001 from the former Department of Social Security, and parts of the former Department for Education and Employment including the Employment Service. Information on costs prior to 2002–03 is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The Department for Work and Pensions produces more than one in-house magazine. The total amounts spent on the production of in-house magazines by all parts of the Department are in the table.
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2002–03 1,387,588 
			 2003–04 1,165,171 
			 2004–05 546,413

Medical Services Ltd.

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what Welsh language requirements there are on Medical Services Ltd. in respect of services that they provide to the Department.

Maria Eagle: Medical Services are contractually obliged to ensure that all services provided to customers in Wales are available in both Welsh and English languages.

New Deal

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have been assisted into work in Easington constituency under the New Deal since 1997.

Jane Kennedy: The available information is in the table.
	
		New Deal in the Easington constituency
		
			 Programme Individuals into work 
		
		
			 New Deal for Young People 1,250 
			 New Deal 25 plus 380 
			 New Deal for Lone Parents 750 
			 New Deal 50 plus 130 
			 Total 2,510 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.New Deal for Young People information is from January 1998 to September 2004.
	2.New Deal 25 plus information is from July 1998 to September 2004.
	3.New Deal for Lone Parents information is from October 1998 to September 2004.
	4.New Deal 50 plus information is from April 2000 to March 2003 and relates to the number of people who received the New Deal 50 plus employment credit.
	5.New Deal 50 plus data is not available at constituency level after March 2003.
	6.New Deal for Disabled People and New Deal for Partners data is not available at constituency level.
	7.Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	New Deal Evaluation Database, DWP Information Directorate

New Deal

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have benefited from the New Deal in North Durham since its inception.

Jane Kennedy: The available information is in the table.
	
		New Deal in the North Durham constituency
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 New Deal for Young People  
			 Individual starts 1,860 
			 Individuals into work 1,260 
			   
			 New Deal 25 plus  
			 Individual starts 1,060 
			 Individuals into work 470 
			   
			 New Deal for Lone Parents  
			 Individual starts 1,150 
			 Individuals into work 710 
			   
			 New Deal 50 plus  
			 Individuals into work 220 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.New Deal for Young People information is from January 1998 to September 2004.
	2.New Deal 25 plus information is from July 1998 to September 2004.
	3.New Deal for Lone Parents information is from October 1998 to September 2004.
	4.New Deal 50 plus information is from April 2000 to March 2003 and relates to the number of people who received the New Deal 50 plus employment credit.
	5.New Deal 50 plus data are not available at constituency level after March 2003.
	6.New Deal for Disabled People and New Deal for Partners data are not available at constituency level.
	7.Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	New Deal Database, DWP Information Directorate.

New Deal

Dari Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have started each of the New Deal for Employment programmes in (a) Stockton and (b) Stockton, South; and how many have entered work as a result.

Jane Kennedy: The available information is in the table.
	
		New Deal in Stockton
		
			  Stockton Stockton, South 
			  Individual starts Individuals gaining a job Individual starts Individuals gaining a job 
		
		
			 New Deal for Young People 4,970 3,070 2,110 1,330 
			 New Deal 25 plus 2,270 800 920 340 
			 New Deal for Lone Parents 2,380 1,470 920 570 
			 New Deal 50 plus 390 390 190 190 
			 Total 10,010 5,730 4,130 2,440 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Information for Stockton consists of data for the Stockton, North and Stockton, South constituencies.
	2.New Deal for Young People data are from January 1998 to September 2004.
	3.New Deal 25 plus data are from July 1998 to September 2004.
	4.New Deal for Lone Parents data are from October 1998 to September 2004.
	5.New Deal 50 plus data relate to the number of people who received the New Deal 50 plus Employment Credit up to March 2003.
	6.New Deal 50 plus data are not available at constituency level after March 2003.
	7.New Deal for Disabled People and New Deal for Partners information is not available at constituency level.
	8.Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 and for this reason components may not sum to totals.
	Source:
	Information Directorate, DWP

New Deal

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people living in the Greater London area have gained work through the New Deal for Lone Parents.

Jane Kennedy: The available information is that 28,820 people in the London Jobcentre Plus region have gained work through the New Deal for Lone Parents since the start of the programme in October 1998.

Non-geographic Telephone Numbers

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the use of non-geographic 0870 and 0845 telephone numbers by his Department and its agencies.

Maria Eagle: The Whistleblowers Hotline is a confidential service available to Department for Work and Pensions staff and is the only 0870 number in use.
	Non-geographic 0870 numbers are not used by customers to contact the Department or its Agencies.
	All Department for Work and Pensions contact centres for customers operate on 0845 (local rate) or 0800 (free) phone numbers.

Non-geographic Telephone Numbers

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much revenue his Department and its agencies received from the use of (a) 0870 and (b) 0845 telephone numbers in the last year for which figures are available.

Maria Eagle: The Department for Work and Pensions and its agencies do not receive any revenue for the use of 0845 numbers.
	For information regarding 0870 numbers I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for North Cornwall (Mr. Tyler) on 17 January 2005, Official Report, column 780W.

Pensions

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his latest estimate is of the annual cost of administering (a) the pension credit and (b) the basic state pension; and what the administration costs are as a proportion of the total benefits paid out under (i) pension credit and (ii) basic state pension.

Malcolm Wicks: Information is not currently available in the format requested. In accordance with the requirements of resource accounting and budgeting, the Department now accounts for its administration and benefit expenditure by strategic objective, as set out in its Public Service Agreements (PSA), and by individual requests for resources (RfRs), as set out in the departmental estimates and accounts.

Pensions

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps pensioners need to take to continue to receive their pension payments over the counter at post offices; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Pond: Pensioners who are contacted about the move to Direct Payment are provided with information on all the account options open to them, including those accounts which can be accessed at post offices. There are now a wide range of new, easy to operate accounts such as current accounts and basic bank accounts, in addition to the Post Office card account, which allow pensioners to get their money at a post office. The small number of people who cannot be paid directly into an account will be paid by cheque, which is cashable at post offices.

Pensions

Mark Fisher: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in (a) Stoke-on-Trent and (b) England have indicated that they wish to continue to collect their pensions at post offices.

Chris Pond: The information is not available in the form requested. Information on methods of payment of state pension is given in the following table. Some of those customers who have opted to be paid directly into a bank or building society account will be able to collect cash from their account at a post office. It is not possible to identify these separately.
	
		State pension accounts broken down by method of payment
		
			  England Stoke-on-Trent 
		
		
			 All accounts 7,992,410 36,675 
			 Payments paid into bank or building  society accounts 5,669,280 19,075 
			 Payments paid into Post Office card  accounts 740,990 6,860 
			 Accounts paid by cheque 1,150 25 
			 Accounts paid by order book 1,565,140 10,675 
			 Other payments 15,855 35 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Figures are rounded to the nearest five and might not sum due to rounding.
	2.Figures are taken from the latest available data at 27 November 2004
	3.Figures relate to accounts rather than recipients; if a person is receiving their state pension through a different benefit they will not be included in the above figures.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre, Department for Work and Pensions, 100 per cent. sample

Pensions

Mark Fisher: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people of pensionable age in Stoke-on-Trent do not receive (a) the full basic state pension and (b) part of the basic state pension as a result of their contribution records.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is not available in the format requested. However, such information as is available for the local authority area of Stoke on-Trent is in the table:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 People of state pension age in receipt of:  
			 A basic state pension at less than the full rate 13,200 
			 A state pension but no basic state pension 300 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Figures are taken from a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation. The figure for the number of people in receipt of a state pension but no basic state pension should only be taken as indicative.
	2.Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	3.A basic state pension is paid to those who fully or partially satisfy the contribution conditions for a category A or category B pension.
	4.Full rate means £77.45 for a basic state pension in 2003–04.
	5.People shown as in receipt of a state pension but no basic state pension are in receipt of a category D pension or either or both graduated retirement benefit and additional state pension.
	6.Local authorities are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant Office for National Statistics postcode directory.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre, 5 per cent. sample as at 31 March 2004

Pensions

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individuals were in receipt of (a) basic state pension and (b) over-80s pension in Southend-on-Sea in (i) 1980, (ii) 1990, (iii) 2000 and (iv)2004.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is not available in the format requested. However, such information as is available is in the table:
	
		Local authority area of Southend-on-Sea
		
			  Number of individuals receiving: 
			 March Basic state pension Category D pension 
		
		
			 2000 33,300 100 
			 2004 33,200 100 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Figures are taken from a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation. Figures for category D pensions should only be taken as indicative.
	2.Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	3.A basic state pension is paid to those who fully or partially satisfy the contribution conditions for a category A or category B pension.
	4.Figures for recipients of basic state pension exclude those receiving category C or category D pension only, additional state pension only or graduated retirement benefit only.
	5.Figures for category D pensions include those who get a category D pension alone or in addition to a basic State Pension that is lower than the level of the Category D Pension—£46.35 in 2003–04.
	6.Local authorities are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant Office for National Statistics postcode directory.
	7.Local authority data are not available prior to March 2000.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre, 5 per cent. sample as at 31 March for the years shown.

Pensions

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on state pension entitlement of British citizens who move abroad;
	(2)  if he will make it his policy to ensure the equal treatment of all British pensioners resident abroad in relation to updating of state retirement pensions.

Malcolm Wicks: The UK state pension is payable in all countries abroad to those who are entitled to it. It is uprated in the normal way for pensioners living abroad where there is a legal requirement or a reciprocal social security agreement to do so.
	However, the uprating of state pensions outside this arrangement is the subject of an appeal to the House of Lords from a decision of the Court of Appeal which found in favour of the Government. We will respond accordingly at the hearing which is set for 28 February and 1 March this year.

Pensions

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many reports of computer failure his Department has received since the introduction of pension and benefit payment through the Post Office card account.

Chris Pond: holding answer 20 December 2004
	Computer faults are reported on a daily basis, examples include faults with individual PC's, system problems affecting individual claims and, on occasion, the unavailability of computer systems such as income support.
	If it can be defined to what level the information is required and in particular which systems e.g. pensions, income support that the information is required for, then data held since introduction of the payment through Post Office card account (April 2003) may be trawled to identify specific incidents.
	What we can provide at present is information relating to any payments which have been received late by the customer due to IT problems. Details, as follows:
	8 May 2003 (Income Support) value £11, 756,334.00
	29 December 2003 (Child Benefit) value £475,192.00
	31 December 2003 (Pensions) value £4,337,200.00
	18 March 2004 (Income Support Northern Ireland) £837,899.00
	6 and 7 April 2004 (Disability Living Allowance) value £15,000,000.00
	The total value of late payments is £32,415,625.00. The total value of all payments since April 2003 is approximately £180,148,321,883.00. Therefore, the proportion of payments received late by customers is 0.02 per cent.
	However, none of the late payment incidents were as a result of system unavailability. The problem occurred due to coding within the systems themselves.

Pensioners' Benefits

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) recipients of the state pension, (b) individuals eligible for a free television licence, (c) pension credit claimants and (d) recipients of winter fuel payments there were in the Nottingham, North constituency on the latest date for which figures are available.

Malcolm Wicks: As of 31 March 2004, the number of people in receipt of a state pension in the Nottingham, North constituency was 15,500.
	The information for those eligible for a free television licence in the Nottingham, North constituency is not available in the format requested. However, the number of households with at least one person aged 75 or over claiming the winter fuel payment (who would be eligible for a free TV licence) in the Nottingham, North constituency in 2003–04 was 5,330.
	As of 31 December 2004, there were 5,655 households, comprising 6,925 individuals, in receipt of pension credit in the Nottingham, North Constituency.
	Information on the number of winter fuel payments made in each constituency is available in the Library.
	Notes:
	1.The state pension figure is based on a 5 per cent. sample and is therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation. 2.The state pension figure is rounded to the nearest hundred. 3.State pension figures is for all people getting a state pension i.e. a category A, B, C or D state pension or graduated retirement benefit. 4.Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant postcode directory. 5.Pension credit figures are rounded to the nearest five. 6.Individual recipients of pension credit include a small number of partners under age 60.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre

Staff Surveys

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost of staff surveys in the Department was in each year since 1997.

Jane Kennedy: The Department for Work and Pensions was formed in June 2002. The available information is as follows:
	The cost of the departmental staff survey (excluding consultancy costs) was £249,000 in 2002 and £136,000 in 2003. The survey cycle for 2004 is not yet complete, but costs are estimated at £130,000. All surveys have been available to all individuals within the Department, with responses ranging from 74,000 to 77,000 completed questionnaires. Data reports are made available not only at departmental and business level, but for over 500 different operational units, allowing improvement actions to be identified at both national and local levels. Reports detailing the breakdown of demographic data allow monitoring of the effectiveness of diversity and equality policies and targets.

Winter Fuel Payments

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individuals were in receipt of (a) winter fuel payments and (b) over-80s annual payments in Southend-on-Sea in (i) 1980, (ii) 1990, (iii)2000 and (iv) 2004.

Malcolm Wicks: Winter fuel payments were introduced in the winter of 1997–98. Information on the number of winter fuel payments and 80 plus annual payments made in Southend-on-Sea in each year for which figures are available is in the Library.

Winter Fuel Payments

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will investigate the number of winter fuel payments that have not been received by pensioners in Hendon; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: Winter fuel payments (WFPs) were issued between 6 November 2004 and 6 December 2004. Data regarding the total number of payments issued for the Hendon area is not available. The Pension Service has received 52 notifications of non-receipt of WFP from customers residing in this area. Of these customers, 38 have received replacement payments and the remaining 14 will have payments issued by 11 February 2005.
	Royal Mail have advised that there has been no reported bulk loss in the area.

Winter Fuel Payments

Mark Fisher: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Stoke-on-Trent have been in receipt of winter fuel payments in each of the last seven years.

Malcolm Wicks: Information on the number of winter fuel payments made in Stoke-on-Trent in each year for which figures are available is in the Library.

Winter Fuel Payments

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the (a) average, (b) shortest and (c) longest time taken to make winter fuel payments between application and payment has been in (i) the UK, (ii) Scotland and (iii) each constituency in each of the last six years.

Malcolm Wicks: Over 11.2 million people entitled to winter fuel payments (approximately 98 per cent.) were paid without having to make a claim. Their payments, with all payments to those who had claimed by 12 November 2004, were sent to them before Christmas as planned. Others, including those who claim before the cut-off date, will be paid in one of the three remaining payment runs which commence in February.

Winter Fuel Payments

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were eligible for winter fuel payments in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland and (c) each constituency in each of the last six years.

Malcolm Wicks: It is not possible to provide an estimate of the number of people who were eligible for winter fuel payments. Information on the number of winter fuel payments made in Great Britain, Scotland and each constituency in each year for which figures are available is in the Library. Payments made in Northern Ireland are a matter for my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Winter Fuel Payments

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households in Northavon constituency (a) were eligible for and (b) received winter fuel payments in (i) 2003–04 and (ii) 2004–05.

Malcolm Wicks: It is not possible to provide an estimate of the number of households that were eligible for a winter fuel payment. Information on the number of households in Northavon that received a winter fuel payment in winter 2003–04 is in the Library. Information on winter 2004–05 is not yet available but we expect the number to be similar.

Winter Fuel Payments

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to extend the winter fuel allowance to pensioners paying for residential care home accommodation.

Malcolm Wicks: Pensioners paying for residential care home accommodation for themselves are eligible for winter fuel payments unless they receive pension credit.